How was Marco Polo different than Christopher Columbus?

Marco Polo was different than Christopher Columbus in many ways. They were both very successful explorers who had a profound effect on the world, however, that's where the similarities end. Marco Polo came from a family of merchants, and so he was very interested in establishing ties with foreign peoples in order to trade goods with them. Perhaps it was this mindset that led Marco Polo to treat foreign people with respect - and even admiration. When one reads Marco's writings it becomes apparent that he was fascinated by the exotic cultures that he came across. It has been said that Marco Polo acted almost as an anthropologist in his dealings with these cultures. Christopher Columbus, however, was an explorer - and some would even say a conqueror. He did not treat foreign cultures and peoples with respect - and certainly not admiration. He was more interested in how he these peoples could be exploited for wealth. This was the most profound difference between these two famous explorers.