Chinese and Indians had navigated vast stretches of ocean, and sailors from the Pacific Islands (the Polynesians and Micronesians) had made major ocean crossings. The Vikings of Norway had reached North America in the eleventh century. Why were Spanish and Portuguese rulers in particular so receptive to the idea of funding a maritime quest? What produced such a passion for gold and treasure and for glory and titles?
One may find the answers in a combination of three motives: economic, religious and political. The European economy went through a decline from the mid- fourteenth to the mid-fifteenth centuries (see Theme ). Plague and wars led to depopulation in many parts of Europe, trade grew slack, and there was a shortage of gold and silver, used for making European coins. This situation was in stark contrast to the preceding period (from the eleventh to the mid-fourteenth centuries) when growing trade had supported Italian city-states and led to the accumulation of capital.
In the late fourteenth century, long-distance trade declined, and then became difficult after the Turks conquered Constantinople in . Italians managed to do business with Turks, but were now required to pay higher taxes on trade. The possibility that many more people could be brought into the fold of Christianity made many devout Christian Europeans ready to face adventure. As it happened, the ‘Crusades’ against the Turks (see Theme ) began as a religious war, but they increased Europe’s trade with Asia and created a taste for the products of Asia, especially spices.
If trade could be followed by political control, with European countries establishing ‘colonies’ in regions with a warmer climate, they would benefit further. When thinking of new regions where gold and spices might be found, one possibility was West Africa, where Europeans had not traded directly so far. Portugal, a small country which had gained independence from Cosmography was understood as the science of mapping the universe. It described both heaven and Earth, but was seen as distinct from geography and astronomy.
Spain since , and which had developed fishing and sailing skills, took the lead.