A Brief Global History Part 4/7 1000 to 1500 CE (AD) Cross Cultural Interactions. The Silk Road. Turkish Empires. Chinggis Khan. Mongol Empires. Tamerlane Empire. Sub-Saharan Africa. High Middle Ages. The Crusades. Marco Polo. Pergolotti. Universities in Europe. Gothic Cathedrals. The Americas and Oceania. Mexica. Inca. Aztec. Olmec. Bubonic Plague. Ming Porcelain. Florence Italy. Medici. Bankers Bank. Christopher Columbus was the son of Niccollo Polo. At 15 years old he went with his father and uncle Maffeo in 1271 AD to the Mongolian ruled China