January 14

Odoric of Pordenone embarked on a nearly two-decade journey starting around 1318, visiting Persia, India, Southeast Asia, and reaching the Yuan court in China. His travelogue offered some of the earliest European accounts of Asian cultures, geography, and customs, including descriptions of the Great Wall and local Christian communities. A devoted Franciscan, he combined religious missions with his explorations, building relationships with diverse peoples along his route. His written account influenced later travelers and contributed significantly to medieval European knowledge of the East. After returning to Europe, he lectured on his findings before dying in Udine in 1331. He is remembered as one of the most daring and informative early explorers of Asia.