Marco Polo's Travels was important primarily because it convinced many Europeans

A) of the need for a defensive alliance against hostile non-European powers.
B) that direct trade by sea with China was possible.
C) of the need to Christianize China.
D) that Chinese culture was superior to European culture.

Marco Polo's travels introduced Europeans to the idea of direct sea trade with China, which inspired many to seek out new trade routes and eventually led to the Age of Exploration. While his travels did contribute to European curiosity about Chinese culture, there is no evidence that it convinced Europeans of the need to Christianize China or that Chinese culture was superior to European culture. Though Polo did encounter non-European powers such as the Mongols, there is no indication that his travels focused specifically on the need for a defensive alliance against them.