As
Europeans grew more powerful, they searched for ways to increase their
wealth. For merchants and some rulers, the key to this was
circumventing the Silk Road.
Europe depended on Asia for spices as well as high
quality cloth and pottery.
Finding a way to the source of these goods and
controlling their trade would immeasurably increase the power of anyone
who could do it.
As
Europeans grew more powerful, they searched for ways to increase their
wealth. For merchants and some rulers, the key to this was
circumventing the Silk Road.