Which of the following is the most likely reason for similarities between Marco Polo’s and Ibn
Battuta’s accounts of their travels in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries?
a. Historians believe they may have met each other on their journeys and compared observations.
b. Both the areas observed participated in significant long-distance trade.
c. Both the areas observed were highly influenced by Confucian teachings.
d. The travelers had the same religious background and prejudices.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is b. Both the areas observed participated in significant long-distance trade.
Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta traveled through different parts of the world during the 13th and 14th centuries. Marco Polo is famous for his journey through Central Asia, China, and parts of the Mongol Empire, while Ibn Battuta’s travels spanned from Morocco through North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. Despite their different paths, there are notable similarities in their accounts.
One of the most likely reasons for these similarities is the extensive trade networks that existed during their respective travels. Both Polo and Battuta visited regions that were central hubs of trade, such as the Mongol Empire, the Persian Gulf, and parts of East Africa and India. These regions had thriving economies based on long-distance trade, including the Silk Road for Polo and the Indian Ocean trade routes for Battuta. This common economic context would have led them to encounter similar types of markets, goods, and cultures, contributing to overlapping descriptions of the people and customs they observed.
While it’s possible that Polo and Battuta had some influence on each other’s observations, there is no concrete historical evidence to support that they met or exchanged ideas. Additionally, the idea that both travelers had the same religious background (Islam for Ibn Battuta and Christianity for Polo) and similar prejudices doesn’t explain the similarities as well as the shared commercial and cultural networks of the regions they visited. Similarly, Confucian teachings, while influential in China, were not a unifying factor in the regions Polo and Battuta explored.
Therefore, the similarities in their accounts can best be attributed to the common presence of long-distance trade that shaped the cultures and societies they encountered during their travels.