Asia.
They wanted a route to Asia. The Silk Road was long, expensive, and dangerous.
They didn't look for a new world. They stumbled upon it. They were looking for new trade routes to the known world.
In the fifteenth century, new trade routes were needed primarily due to the growing demand for spices, silk, and other luxury goods in Europe, coupled with the desire to bypass intermediaries like the Ottoman Empire and Italian city-states that controlled traditional land routes. Additionally, the fall of Constantinople in 1453 disrupted existing trade routes, prompting European powers to seek direct access to Asian markets. The Age of Exploration, driven by advancements in navigation and shipbuilding, further fueled the quest for new maritime routes to enhance trade and expand territorial claims.
Between the 1400s and 1600s, Europeans were motivated to explore for several key reasons: the pursuit of new trade routes to access valuable spices and goods from Asia, the desire for wealth and resources, and the spread of Christianity. Advances in navigation and shipbuilding technology facilitated longer voyages. Additionally, political competition among emerging nation-states spurred exploration, as did the curiosity about the world and the Renaissance spirit of discovery. Lastly, the fall of Constantinople in 1453 prompted Europeans to seek alternative routes to the East.
Asia.
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They wanted a route to Asia. The Silk Road was long, expensive, and dangerous.
Ottoman taxes and restrictions on trade in its territory encouraged Europeans to seek new trade routes to Asia.
Europeans sought new trade routes in the 1400s primarily to Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Explorers like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan were seeking direct routes to these continents in order to access valuable goods like spices, silk, and gold.
to more stuff for the europeans
Europeans began looking for new sea routes to Asia.
Europeans explored to find new trade routes to Asia, to spread Christianity, to seek fame and glory, to acquire wealth through the discovery of valuable resources, and to expand their empires and influence.
.... avoid expensive middlemen.
New trade routes to Asia
Europeans had to find new trade routes to the East because the Ottoman Empire controlled and taxed existing routes.
Europeans sought to bypass the trade routes of the Ottoman Empire primarily to reduce their dependence on Ottoman-controlled routes and to avoid high tariffs imposed on goods. The desire for direct access to lucrative markets in Asia, particularly for spices and silk, also motivated exploration. Additionally, the rise of nationalism and competition among European powers spurred the quest for new trade routes and territories. This pursuit ultimately led to the Age of Exploration and the establishment of alternative maritime routes.