Marco Polo’s interest in the diversity of cultures was amazing. The climate, trade, architecture, religions, traditions and customs along with bazaars, and local cuisine and legendary tales and stories where all explained in Marco Polo’s book. His description of his travels through parts of Turkey, Persia, China, Japan, and India. He learned the mercantile trade from his father and uncle, who traveled through Asia, and apparently met Kublai Khan. In 1269, they returned to Venice to meet Marco for the first time. The three of them embarked on an epic journey to Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa; Marco was imprisoned, and dictated his stories to a cellmate. His pioneering journey inspired Christopher Columbus