Lesson 1 Commentary: The Europeans—The Quest for a Route to Asia

The Quest for a Route to Asia

The Europeans came upon the Americas while looking for a new route to Asia. Asia was highly developed and had many goods the Europeans wanted, such as silk and spices. People wanted the silk to replace the woolen clothing they wore both winter and summer, and the spices helped cover the taste of food that had spoiled due to the lack of refrigeration (obviously there were no refrigerators or freezers back then). However, in order to obtain these goods, one had to cross deserts and mountains that were treacherous and filled with robbers. By the time the caravans carrying the goods arrived—if they arrived—the price of the goods was very high. Further shipment was necessary before the goods arrived in Europe, adding still more to the price. Only the wealthiest could afford them. Marco Polo's trips and the Crusades introduced more people to these goods, and gradually, as wealth grew in Europe, so did the desire for Asian products.