Marco Polo


 * 1271 sets out of Venice and travels across Eurasia to China where under rule of Yuan Dynasty and Khubilai Khan
 * returns to Europe 1295 and writes 2 books: one about travels and another about Chinese society
 * writes very fondly about Chinese society, so when people read it they want to go there
 * when Pax Mongolica comes to end people think of new ways to get to China (CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS)