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Why did Portuguese sailors sail south along the coast of West Africa?

Why did Portuguese sailors sail south along the coast of West Africa?

Access to commodities such as fabrics, spices, and gold motivated a European quest for a faster means to reach South Asia. It was this search that led the Portuguese down the coast of West Africa to Sierra Leone in 1460.

Why did Portuguese sailors explore the southern tip of Africa?

1450-c. 1526), to search overland for the Christian kingdom in Ethiopia. King João II also wanted to find a way around the southernmost point of Africa’s coastline, so just a few months after dispatching the overland explorers, he sponsored Dias in an African expedition.

What was the Portuguese goal in sailing south on the African coast?

The Portuguese goal of finding a sea route to Asia was finally achieved in a ground-breaking voyage commanded by Vasco da Gama, who reached Calicut in western India in 1498, becoming the first European to reach India. The second voyage to India was dispatched in 1500 under Pedro Álvares Cabral.

Why did Portugal begin to explore the coast of South America and Africa in the 1400?

why did Portugal begin exploration of the west coast of Africa? Portuguese wanted to find their own Gold markets at a cheaper price to sell at a higher price. As trade with the East increased Portugal needed more gold to pay off their debts.

Why did Portugal begin to explore the coast of South America and Africa in the 1400s?

How did the Portuguese establish footholds and trade on Africa’s coasts?

How did the Portuguese establish footholds and trade on Africa’s coasts? They established forts and trading posts on the coast and seized key ports around the Indian Ocean. In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail westward across the Atlantic Ocean to solve a problem of geography.

Why did the Portuguese sail directly to India quizlet?

Why did the Portuguese want to sail directly to India? They wanted to cut out the middleman in their trade. Nobody knew how far it was if you sailed west from Europe.