For millennia, the Silk Road (actually, a network of trade routes that spanned Eurasia) had been the means of contact between the great civilizations of China, India, the Near East and Europe.

Trade caravans, merchants, diplomatic missions, warriors, religious pilgrims – millions of people traversed this trade route over time. Among them was an intrepid merchant from Venice by the name of Marco Polo, who embarked on the Silk Road for trade, good fortune and adventure. Marco wrote a book about his travels, which included his 17 years of service as a travelling ambassador for Kublai Khan, the grandson of the ruthless and brilliant conqueror, Genghis Khan, whose Mongolian warriors had subjugated most of Eurasia.

As horrific as Genghis’ conquests were, under Kublai, the world became connected like never before. Historians call this period Pax Mongolica or Mongol Peace.