jan 1, 1500 - - Spices in great demand for preservation, medicine, perfumes and incense. - Arabs controlled Middle East, Indien spices had to travel overland from Indian Ocean to Mediterranean then to Italy. - Spain and Portugal wanted to break Italy's monopoly (Venice, Genou ports) - Late 16th century, Ming Dynasty, Young Lo destroyed Chinese vessels to concentrate efforts to land threats.
Added to timeline:
Date:
jan 1, 1500
Now
~ 525 years ago