Introduction
By around 1450, Medieval Times was over. The Crusades and the Mongols had given Europeans a taste of the Afro-Eurasian good life (sugar, spice, & everything nice). Now in the Early Modern Period, they wanted more. They were no longer able to get access to luxury goods due to the Ottomans tanking over the important trading city of Constantinople. To get these Asian commodities, Europeans used maritime technologies they gained from Afro-Eurasians: rudders, astrolabes, lateen sails, and compasses. Thanks to the Mongols diffusing gunpowder, Europeans made weapons that helped them conquer other lands. Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British, and French sailors sailed to the Indian Ocean in pursuit of the Asian luxury goods they desired. Once in the Indian Ocean, the Europeans used their gunpowder weapons to establish trading posts and colonies: the Spanish conquered the Philippines, the Dutch conquered Indonesia, the important spice islands located in Southeast Asia, and the Portuguese, British and French established trading posts all along the coasts of Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. For the first time in human history, Europeans were in the Indian Ocean!
Five European nations were the dominant sponsors of these voyages in search of new trade routes, merchant opportunities, and - ultimately - lands to conquer. These were Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands.
Five European nations were the dominant sponsors of these voyages in search of new trade routes, merchant opportunities, and - ultimately - lands to conquer. These were Portugal, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands.