Were the Europeans looking to acquire poppy's in the East Indies in 1495?

Answer 1

In 1495, Europeans were primarily focused on establishing trade routes to acquire spices, silk, and other valuable commodities from the East Indies. While opium poppies were present in the region, they were not a primary target for European acquisition at that time. The significant interest in opium came later, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, as the demand for opium grew in Europe and its trade became more lucrative. Thus, in 1495, the main European interests lay elsewhere.