In the year 1271 Marco Polo, age 17, started out from Venezia along with his father and uncle on a journey across Asia. Marco’s account of his 24-year odyssey would reveal a world ne'er before delineate. Traveling by caravan, the Polos followed ancient trade routes through lands that also evoke Marco’s wonderful finds.

Though he discovered very little of himself in his wide translated book, the outline of the planet, Marco is idealised as a learned soul on a mosaic in urban center, Italy, pictured here.

These photos and captions were revealed in an exceedingly 2001 National Geographic magazine series on Marco Polo.