Marco Polo was an explorer who was actually a merchant. He was with his father and uncle who exchanged many things with people of the eastern civilization. They mainly traded jewels, but furs, salt and slaves sometimes on the side. When in China with the Mongol Empire, they traded these objects and knowledge with the eastern civilization while receiving silks, paper, paper currency, porcelain, ivory, jade, spices, and noodles. He also brought back the knowledge of compasses and other things. While on the way with his father and uncle, they went a different route than other merchants before and arrived in China where they were one of the first groups from Europe to get there. They encountered the Mongols when in China, and became great acquaintances with Kublai Khan. They traded with the Mongols and Marco Polo worked with them as a liege of Kublai Khan.