Why did Portugal want a water route to Asia?

Why did both Spain and Portugal want to find a sea route to Asia? Spain and Portugal wanted to find a sea route to Asia because Portugal did not share trade routes with Asia and Europe (no Mediterranean ports), Spain wanted to spread Christianity, and both countries wanted to find more trade.

How did Portugal benefit from having a direct sea route to Asia?

His discovery of this sea route helped the Portuguese establish a long-lasting colonial empire in Asia and Africa. The new sea route around Africa allowed Portuguese sailors to avoid the Arab trade fleet in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Better access to the Indian spice routes boosted Portugal's economy.

Why was it important to find a water route from Portugal to India?

After Vasco da Gama found a way to the Indian Ocean around the tip of Africa, European monarchs were happy to tap into the spice trade while cutting out these interlopers. Vasco da Gama tried to find a new route to Asia by traveling by water south from Portugal around Africa to try to reach Asia.

Why did the king want an all-water route to Asia?

It increased competition because because other European nations began to look for their own water route to Asia; they wanted to participate in the profitable trade. Because they were interested in the idea of being rich, as trade with Asia would bring them wealth. They also wanted to spread Christianity.

Why did the Europeans want a new route to Asia?

The existing routes were treacherous and dangerous, so traders believed that if they could find a safer route over water, they could import more goods from the east. Along the way, they made some discoveries that changed the world as they knew it.

Who was the first European to sail around Africa and land in Asia?

The Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama was the first European to sail around Africa and landed in Asia (India) during his voyage from 1497 to 1499. After da Gama's voyage, European countries with seafaring ships became very powerful.

Why did Vasco da Gama call his ship the Cape of Good Hope?

He called that point Cape of Storms. The King of Portugal then renamed it the Cape of Good Hope because he did not want other explorers to be afraid. Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama was the first European to circumnavigate Africa and landed in Asia (India) during his voyage from 1497 to 1499.

Why did Marco Polo want to travel to Asia?

In the late 13th and early 14th centuries, the Italian explorer Marco Polo made extensive journeys to the East, including what is now China and Mongolia. In his travels, he learned about the wealth of exotic goods that this area had to offer, from silks and spices to new foods and ideas.