2007-02-12 11:01:53 · 9 answers · asked by Simone R 1 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Portugal
2 main reasons. first no one really knew how much to the South Africa extended, so Portugal was trying to find a quicker route. 2nd the land route to Asia was getting dangerous and expensive with many taxes and stuff.
http://experienceportugal.blogspot.com/
2007-02-13 06:37:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Water Route To Asia
2017-01-09 18:38:08 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So they could practice water polo all the way to Asia. since Portugal's football (soccer) team sucks, they wanted a sport they could dominate during the Olympics. So, since they had to go to Asia to trade anyway, they wanted a water route so the crew (also the water polo team) could practice on their "off," time. Also, by practicing in the open ocean it increased their strength and they didn't have to worry about the competition spying on their practice.
2007-02-12 11:12:21 · answer #3 · answered by The Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They wanted to trade with the Asian without using middleman so that they could gain a bigger profit. Before, cargo airplane wasn't even invented yet. So, the fastest transportation exist on that time is ship, which, as you know need a water route so that they wont end up in Antarctic or somewhere else
2007-02-12 11:13:22 · answer #4 · answered by Tingkatan3 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mainly because of spices. You can imagine the value of spices in Europe where no refrigeration of meat was possible.
Spices were 10 times more valued by pound than gold.
They earned enormous sums on money and king Ferdinand and others donated major share of it to the Pope in Vatican, who presumably still has the money, since Portugal is very poor country compared to other great trading nation of the time Holland.
2007-02-12 19:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, mainly for commerce. The route by land was complicated as many people were on the way, so by sea would be better, they thought. And indeed, so it was.
2007-02-13 04:05:50 · answer #6 · answered by Lisistrata 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because the arabs held the red sea overland routes to asia/india. they didnt think africa was that big, but they found it, didnt they? PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!
2007-02-12 11:10:36 · answer #7 · answered by elizadushkuslover 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So they could trade for rare spices and beautiful women.
2007-02-12 15:41:08 · answer #8 · answered by luosechi 駱士基 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So they could get there without walking... next.
2007-02-12 11:08:53 · answer #9 · answered by Pedro Sanchez 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋