John of Plano Carpini

John of Plano Carpini was a 13th-century Franciscan friar and diplomat who traveled from Europe to the Mongol Empire, serving as an ambassador for the Pope. His mission, around 1245, aimed to gather intelligence about the Mongols and their empire, which was expanding across Asia. During his journey, he documented his observations of the Mongols’ culture, society, and military, providing Europeans with one of the earliest detailed accounts of inner Asia and the Mongol Empire. His writings significantly influenced European understanding of Asia during the Middle Ages.