Do you know what were the important trade routes from the West to the East before the opening of the New Passage?

There were three important trade routes from the West to the East before the opening of the New Route: one in the north, through Asia Minor, the Black Sea, and the Caspian Sea to Central Asia; one in the center, from the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea through the Two Rivers Basin to the Persian Gulf, and thence by sea to all parts of the Orient; and one in the south, through the port of Alexandria, in Egypt, to the Red Sea, and thence by sea to the Orient.

The northern one was occupied by the Turks, who hated Europeans, and the Ottoman Empire was at war with the Holy Roman Empire. The other two were controlled by Arab traders, and the hostility between Islam and Christianity made it impossible for Europeans to pass through. All dealings between the East and the West had to pass through Arab hands, and goods changed hands through Arab merchants at 8-10 times the price. For a long time, European aristocrats and merchants wanted to bypass the Middle East and find another way to reach China and India.

By the end of the 15th century, relatively powerful nation-states had formed in Europe, such as Britain, France, Portugal and Spain. Any endeavor could be undertaken under the auspices of the state. The knowledge of astronomy and geography also developed greatly at that time. Ancient Greek geographers of the doctrine of the earth's circle is increasingly popular, in terms of navigation, Europe's shipbuilding technology has been greatly improved, the Chinese invention of the compass needle has been applied in Europe, sailing in the sea can not be lost, which makes long-distance navigation possible. At the same time, a group of adventurous navigators and sponsors appeared in Europe. In the discovery of new routes, Columbus is the most typical representative figure.