Question

1. why did merchants after marco polo want to find an alternate route to asia?

Explanation:

After Marco Polo, the existing over - land trade routes to Asia, like the Silk Road, faced issues such as high taxes imposed by middlemen, political instability in some regions, and the threat of banditry. Sea routes were seen as a more direct, potentially cheaper, and safer alternative for trade.

Answer:

The existing over - land routes to Asia had problems like high taxes, political instability, and banditry, so merchants wanted a safer and more profitable sea - based alternate route.