Marco Polo

Marco Polo spent much of his journey as an envoy for the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan.

Marco Polo mistook some of the animals he saw for mythical creatures.

Marco Polo was among the first Europeans to describe many of the advanced technologies found in China.

Marco Polo supposedly discovered Shambala, a hidden, mythical kingdom located in inner Asia.

Marco Polo did not bring pasta back to Venice from China. It is one of the most famous legends out there about the adventurer, but truth be told, pasta had made its way into the cuisine of Italy prior to Marco's birth.

Marco Polo introduced the concept of paper money, which was used in Mongolia in the 13th century, but not in Europe.

Not a lot is known about Marco Polo after his return to Venice in 1295. It is posited that he returned to the family merchant business, but it is known that he married and had three daughters: Moretta, Fantina, and Bellela. He lived to be 70 years old.