A shorter route to the east of Asia! He was looking to exploit the trade opportunities with china. He was also believed to be looking for opium (from India) as Europe was dependant upon it as a pain reliever.
East Asia had resources that Europe did not, such as certain spices or silk.
-tea -opium -saltpetre -indigo dye -silk -cotton
The reason Asia is called Far East is because people had to travel far to the east to trade with them
mainly cotton, silk, salt, saltpeter, and opium.
The Sassoons were huge players in the opium trade in China. A Jewish family from Iraq, they went on to make millions through the British East Indian Company.
Arab traders first began to trade in south east Asia in 3000BC.
China India and Southwest Asia
The East India Trade Company
China India and Southwest Asia
Portugal
Trade