Magellan’s

New Route to
the East
In 15th and 16th centuries brought an era of exploration and expansion that
resulted from the desire to gain new lands, power, and wealth for the explorers
and their countries.

In the last two centuries of the middle ages (1300-1500), the Europeans, while
regaining the Holy Land from the muslims, were able to establish commerce with
the orient through trade routes. Spices like pepper, ginger, nutmeg, onions and
garlic were the most important items of trade from the east, owing o the desire
of the Europeans to enhance the taste of food and preserve meat during winter
time.

The fall of Constantinople (1453) and the emergence of the Ottoman turks closed
the former trade routes to the east, causing the monarchs and navigators of
Europe to find new routes across the seas.
The Portuguese were a few years ahead of Spaniards in the discovery of new trade
routes inspired by prince Henry. The navigator (1394-1460), Portuguese navigator
sailed down the African cost to reach the east. In 1487 led by Bartolome Dias, the
Portuguese rounded the cape of good hope, a few years later, in 1498, Vasco de
Gama reached Calicut, India, by sailing eastward from the cape.

The end of the Reconquistas (wars against the moors) in 1492, paved the way of
voyages including the discovery of the New world (America) for Spain. Christopher
Columbus, who had failed to convince the king of Portugal that he could reach the
east by sailing westward, was able to get the support of the Spanish crown.
After these remarkable voyages, Portugal and Spain became keen rivals in colonizing new lands
because of gold, spices, and other merchandise found in the orient, as well as their religious
zeal to proselytize the natives. European adventurer made daring voyages and sought new lands
and riches. Great explorers were able to discover various routes for their expeditions, which
marked the Age of exploration (1492-1682)

On May 3, 1493, pope Alexander VI, attempting to settle the rivalry, issued a Papal bull known
as the INTER CAETERA. The pope decreed that the Spanish zone of exploration should be the
west imaginary line drawn north to south, 100 leagues west of the Azores and Cape Verde
Islands. All lands east of the demarcation line should belong to Portugal.

The following year, the two kingdoms agreed in the treaty of Tordesillas to move the
demarcation line 370 leagues, Portugal claim Brazil and Spain was given the rest of the
Americas.