if this is the silk road you are talking about, then it was the toll booth. The merchants where on the road to trade goods and make money not lose it.
It was all about spices, yes the ones for cooking
europeans began to search for a water based trade route to Asia
The Europeans wanted to avoid the Muslims of the Middle East
At that period of time the Ottoman Empire conquested the main route to Asia where some goods, materials and mines such as silk and spice. European countries were trading with India and China also most of the inventions like gunpowder, compass and paper was Chinese. Europeans were also transfering since and technology from Asia. After the Ottomans were blocked the route Europeans searched for alternative routes to Asia to continue the trade.
a sea route around Africa
At that period of time the Ottoman Empire conquested the main route to Asia where some goods, materials and mines such as silk and spice. European countries were trading with India and China also most of the inventions like gunpowder, compass and paper was Chinese. Europeans were also transfering since and technology from Asia. After the Ottomans were blocked the route Europeans searched for alternative routes to Asia to continue the trade.
A shorter sea route to Asia...
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of Constantinople of the Byzantine Empire which occurred after a siege laid by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Sultan Mehmet II El-Fatih.
a sea route to Asia
a trade route to asia
a sea route to Asia
the North West Passage