Marco Polo and the sea

The pax mongolica between the Christian Europeans and the Mongols created an opportunity for trade. The Himalayas and Gobi desert were natural barriers between Europe and Asia so the trip on the Silk Road took 5 YEARS! Niccolo and Maffeo Polo visited China in 1271 and stayed for 17 years in China including Nicolo's son Marco Polo, in the service of Emperor Kublai Khan who established the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368).

They left China when Kublai became 80 and without him it would be risky to stay. The Polos sailed south, escorting the 17 year old Mongol Princess Kokachin headed for marriage in Persia, and stayed in Sumatra to avoid the monsoon. Here is where Marco noticed that the North Star, or the "Phoenician Star" disappeared below the horizon.
When they reached Persia, they found out that Arghum Khan has died, so Arghum's son Ghazan got lucky. On their way to Venice overland, they got robbed in Turkey arriving home in 1295.

The Silk Road lost its importance only when Vasco daGama went around Cape Horn. Europe to the Cape took about 6 months, and another 6 months to get to the East Indies. This was still much better than 5 years on the Silk Road!