Marco Polo's most significant contribution to the exploration of the world was that he wrote a book about Asia, which caused explorers to seek new trade routes. His book, "The Travels of Marco Polo," detailed his journeys through Asia and provided valuable insights into the cultures, peoples, and goods he encountered. This work inspired subsequent explorers, including Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama, to seek new routes to Asia and contributed to the Age of Exploration.
While he did not invent the astrolabe, convert Asians to Christianity, or sail a caravel to India, his writings had a lasting impact on European understanding of and interest in the East.