Europe

Europe was going through political reunification. They were unifying into states(countries) governed by monarchs(kings). These monarchs developed a taste for luxury Asian goods however due to Muslim Empires between Europe and Asia they were unable to trade directly with the Asian nations.

Portugal

Portugal established one of the first Maritime Trade Routes they used new technology such as the astrolabe, new ship designs, the lanteen sail, and stern post rudder.

Spain

Spain joined Portugal after finishing the wars in the Iberian peninsula this gave them a desire to spread the catholic religion and seek economic benefits.

Christopher Columbus

Due to Spanish conquest when Christopher Columbus pitch his plan of sailing west to Asia Ferdinand and Isabella(from Spain) responded with words that literally translate to “Duh”

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and few months after that landed in America -which he thought to be India-, more specifically he landed in the Caribbean and found great wealth among the native peoples. This created competition between Portugal France and Britain to explore these lands.