What was the initial reason for Columbus‘s journey to the new world?

1 answer

The initial reason for Christopher Columbus's journey to the New World was to find a direct maritime trade route to Asia, specifically to the Indies (the East Indies or modern-day Southeast Asia), which were rich in spices, silks, and other valuable goods. Columbus believed that by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean, instead of traveling east around Africa, he could reach Asia faster and establish direct trade with the lucrative markets. He sought support from various European kingdoms to fund his expedition, and eventually secured backing from the Spanish monarchy led by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.