In 1275, Kublai Khan warmly greeted Marco, Niccolo, and Maffeo Polo at his summer palace. It was called Shangdu, or “Xanadu.”
Marco’s book says Kublai liked him a lot. Over the next 17 years, he sent Marco on many missions. Marco traveled all over the Mongol empire. Kublai had said his emissaries, or agents, never told him enough about the places they visited. Marco wanted to do a better job. That’s probably why there are so many details in his book. He wanted to be a great observer.
In the painting below, Kublai Khan welcomes Marco Polo.
