Vasco da Gama was the first to discover the route to Asia in 1497.
Columbus was the first in 1492.
Portugal
a land route to Asia
The route European explorers looked for was a sea route, as the overland route across Asia was cut off by the Ottoman Empire. The first to discover this route was Vasco de Gama, who went through the perilous Cape of Good Hope and ended up in Calicut, India.
the pacific ocean
A water route to Asia.
I believe it was Portugal, specifically Vasco da Gama.
PORTUGAL was the country interested in discovering new trade route (sea route) to Asia when Turkish king or some other king blocked land route.
Water route to Asia
1497
He started in Spain. He was the first European to find the Pacific Ocean.