Trade and c    1     have often f    2     the foundation of mankind’s greatest a    3    . To c    4     the great map of the world was a strong p    5     for the people of early civilisations. Marco Polo’s t    6     inspired European explorers to s    7     for sea r    8     from west to east. H    9    , merchants and explorers from the East set s    10     from east to west many years before Columbus first did.