<span>Repetition of similar events or recurring historical themes is called "cyclical history," since it is indeed true that history often "repeats itself"--especially when nations fail to learn from their own mistakes. </span>
Crossing the Silk Road, Marco Polo brought elements of Western culture to the East and Eastern culture back to the West.
Because of his exploration for trade of what is today modern China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and India, the east experienced Western culture.
Furthermore, his journeys were documented in the Book of the Marvels of the World which presented to Europeans the Asian cities and countries.
Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale in 1984, and in 1980 he defeated Jimmy Carter