Question

which of these conclusions is supported by the voyages of both hsin tang-shu and marco polo?
a. countries prefer to fight wars against one another before accepting a trade relationship.
b. despite the efforts of chinese and europeans, islam quickly spread along the silk road.
c. the silk road was excellent for transporting gold but collapsed when new products were introduced.
d. long - distance trade exposes people to previously unknown ideas, peoples, and cultures.

Explanation:

Hsin T'ang-shu (Xuanzang) traveled to India to study Buddhism and bring back Buddhist scriptures, which exposed him to a different religious and cultural system. Marco Polo traveled from Europe to China and wrote about the different people, cultures, and ideas he encountered in Asia. Both of their voyages involved long - distance travel (in a sense, long - distance trade routes like the Silk Road facilitated such travels) and led to exposure to new ideas, peoples, and cultures.

• Option A: There is no indication from their voyages that countries prefer war over trade. Their voyages were more about exploration and cultural/religious exchange rather than war - trade relations.
• Option B: There is no evidence from the voyages of Hsin T'ang - shu (focused on Buddhism) and Marco Polo (focused on documenting the East) that Islam's spread was a result of their efforts or a main theme of their travels.
• Option C: The Silk Road was about more than just gold. It was a multi - commodity trade route (including silk, spices, etc.) and there is no indication from their voyages that it collapsed due to new products.

Answer:

D. Long - distance trade exposes people to previously unknown ideas, peoples, and cultures.