Why did the Portuguese and Spanish explorers sail in different directions to find a route to Asia?

1 Answer
Feb 5, 2018

The Portuguese explorers started first and had established control of the route south around Africa and then east to Asia. This left the Spanish with only the western route to Asia available to them.

Explanation:

As the power of the Islamic empire of the Ottoman Turks grew access to Spain and Portugal via the silk road became more restricted. With the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire, and the capital of Constinople the silk road was totally in the control of the Islamic Empire Ottoman Turks.

Portugal had started to explore the route around the Horn of Africa, even before the fall of Constantiople. Venice and the other Italian cities had dominated the restricted trade over the silk road.
Portugal under Henry the Navagator desired to find a route to the riches of India and China that was not dependent on the Ottoman Turks and the Italian City states. Under Vasco Gamma the Portugesse had found a route to India.

Spain after the Reconquesta in 1492 wanted to have a share of the profitable trade with China and India. The silk road was closed to Spain because of the Islamic Empires. Spain had been fighting for its independence from Islamic control for 700 years. Venice might be able to have limited access to the silk road through the Islamic Empire, Spain had no access.

The Eastern route around the Horn of Africa was dominated by Portugal. Spanish explorers were not welcome on the trade routes explored by the Portugesse. Colon offered an alternative to go west across the Atlantic to reach China and India. This Western route was the only option possible for Spain.