Marco Polo was an Italian explorer who lived from 1254 to 1324. He traveled extensively throughout Asia and his accounts of his journeys were recorded in a book called "The Travels of Marco Polo." His book provided detailed descriptions of the lands he visited, including China, Mongolia, and India, as well as their customs, culture, and people.
Polo's travels inspired many other explorers, including Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan. Columbus was fascinated by Polo's descriptions of the wealth and trade opportunities in Asia, and he hoped to find a new trade route to Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean. Magellan was also inspired by Polo's travels, particularly his accounts of the Spice Islands (modern-day Indonesia), which led Magellan to embark on his famous voyage to circumnavigate the world in search of a new trade route to the East.
When Polo was in Asia, he served as an ambassador and advisor to Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire. Polo spent many years in the Khan's court, where he learned about the customs and traditions of the Mongol people and gained access to many parts of Asia that were previously unknown to Western explorers.
Who was Marco Polo? Explain how he inspired explorers like Columbus and Magellan. Whom did he serve when he was in Asia?
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shorten it
Marco Polo was an Italian explorer who traveled extensively throughout Asia and recorded his journeys in a book called "The Travels of Marco Polo". His travels inspired explorers like Columbus and Magellan to seek new trade routes to Asia. When in Asia, Polo served as an advisor and ambassador to Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire.