question:%20What%20were%20the%20Portuguese%20trying%20to%20do%20here%20with%20these%20routes%20to,%20and%20from,%20India?%0AThey%20found%20gold%20at%20the%20Southern%20tip%20of%20Africa.%0AThey%20were%20attempting%20to%20take%20over%20India%20for%20their%20empire.%0AThey%20were%20trying%20to%20find%20the%20New%20World.%0AThey%20were%20searching%20for%20a%20water%20route%20to%20Asia.

1 answer

The Portuguese were primarily searching for a water route to Asia. During the Age of Exploration in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, they aimed to establish direct trade routes to India and the East Indies to access valuable spices, silks, and other goods. The discovery of a sea route around the southern tip of Africa was crucial for this endeavor, as it allowed them to bypass overland trade routes that were controlled by other powers.