The fourth christian crusade to the Holy Land gains control of the part of Constantinople (Istanbul, opening up new trade opportunities with the east
Jan 1, 1254
Marco Polo was born in a powerful republic in Venice
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Jan 1, 1258
Mongol armies sack Baghdad, the center of the Islamic world
Jan 1, 1266
Kublai Khan found his new capital at Khanbaliq (Beijing)
Jan 1, 1271
Marco Polo's travels begin
Jan 1, 1274
The Three Polos arrive in China where Kublai Khan welcomes tthem
Jan 1, 1279
Kublai Khan is recognized as a ruler after defeating the Song Dynasty
Jan 1, 1292
Marco Polo escorts a mongol princess to Hormuz on the Persian Gulf
Jan 1, 1294
As Kublai Khan dies, the Mongol Empire stretches from the modern-day Poland to Korea, split into four great knanates or states. Soon after Kublai Khan's death, the rulers of the central Asain khanates convert to Islam
Feb 18, 1294
Kublai Khan dies
Jan 1, 1295
Marco Polo Returns to Venice
Jan 1, 1296
Marco is captured by Genoese, who is at war with Venice. While in jail, he dictates the story of his travels
Jan 1, 1298
Polo served as a gentleman-commander of a galley in the Venetian navy
Jan 1, 1298
Il Milione(description of the world) is published
Jan 1, 1299
Marco is freed from jail after war of venice, where his stories are met with disbelief
Jan 1, 1324
Marco Polo Dies
Jan 1, 1368
Mongols are driven out of China by Ming Dynasty forces
