In the mid-15th century, were it the Western Europeans who blocked the original east-west trade route, or were the Turks trying to maintain the old trade route but being blocked by the Western Europea

In the mid-15th century, were it the Western Europeans who blocked the original east-west trade route, or were the Turks trying to maintain the old trade route but being blocked by the Western Europeans?

The Turks In 1453, the Ottoman Turks destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire and occupied the Turkish Straits, which the Eurasian trade routes must pass through.

Due to reasons such as religion and war, the Ottomans imposed heavy taxes on merchant ships traveling through the Middle East after taking control of the Middle East, which reduced the profits of merchants and became an obstacle to trade between the East and the West.

Columbus was forced to open a new sea route.

This is one of the reasons for the opening of new routes.