What was the main motivating factors of Christopher Columbus’ and Vasco da Gama’s maritime voyage
Columbus wanted to gain
Columbus wanted to be the first
1. Christopher Columbus:
- Columbus wanted to prove that it was possible to reach the East Indies by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean. He believed that this would be a faster and more direct route to access the spice trade.
- Columbus aimed to find new trade routes and establish direct trade with Asia, bypassing the Ottoman Empire which controlled the traditional land routes.
- Columbus was also motivated by his desire for wealth and fame. He hoped to find vast riches, including gold, silver, and precious stones.
2. Vasco da Gama:
- Vasco da Gama was motivated by the desire to find an all-water route to reach the lucrative spice trade in the East Indies (modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia).
- Like Columbus, da Gama wanted to bypass the control of the Ottoman Empire and establish direct trade with Asia.
- Da Gama also aimed to establish Portuguese dominance and control over the spice trade, which was highly profitable and could significantly boost Portugal's economy.