No throne on Earth came close to rivalling it. The court of Kublai Khan stood at the centre of an empire that threw every other power of its age into shadow. Vast and wealthy beyond comprehension, it seemed a world away from medieval Europe. Yet one young Venetian made the staggering 4-year journey, and wrote down everything that he saw. His name was Marco Polo.

Today, Dan draws on Marco's extraordinary diary to take you on a journey across deserts, mountains and oceans, to glimpse the splendour and spectacle of this medieval superpower.

Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Natasha Hughes.

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Marco Polo and The Court of the Great Kublai Khan

Dan Snow's History Hit

Marco Polo and The Court of the Great Kublai Khan