Marco Polo's trips to the Far East in the 13th century encouraged East-West trade, affecting European colonial expansion. Polo's description of eastern wealth ignited European curiosity and constituted a justification for the invasion and seizure of those areas. His travels also created a bright picture of the East for Europeans, with misinterpretations and stereotypes of Eastern culture. Polo is a turning point in history, a bridge between cultures, but at the same time it has contributed to deepening the gap between them and promoting colonial and orientalist policies.
