European explorers' main goal during the Age of Exploration (15th–17th centuries) was to find a direct sea route to the East, specifically Asia, from Europe. This was primarily driven by the desire to obtain valuable spices, silks, and other lucrative goods from the East without having to rely on intermediaries, such as the Ottoman Empire, through which all the trade routes pass, allowing it, through its control of the trade, to raise the prices. By finding a direct sea route, Europeans hoped to bypass these intermediaries, access the sources of these goods directly, and maximize their profits. This ultimately led to momentous voyages of exploration undertaken by renowned figures like Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan.
