Crossing Oceans The Portuguese (in ORANGE) are the first to sail all the way around Africa, bypassing Muslim control of the Middle East. Columbus tries to reach India by sailing in the opposite direction, not knowing that America is blocking his path. Columbus makes four voyages (BLUE and GREEN), but never actually sets foot in the country we now call America.

	Sailing Around Africa The Portuguese focus on India, because it's the center of the lucrative pepper trade.  They establish bases there (ORANGE dots), but are unable to hold onto bases further east in the Spice Islands. Enterprising Dutch merchants muscle their way into the Spice Island trade (GREEN dots). The Dutch create the world's first public stock offering, raising a vast sum of money to launch the hugely profitable Dutch East India Company. The British respond by creating a similar global trading company (RED dots).
	Searching for India The lines above show the routes of the four voyages of Columbus. Note that he never actually reaches the shore of Florida, or any other part of today's America. He is resolutely focused on exploring further South, knowing that India lies well south of Japan, his first planned stop. The native peoples he encounters do not look Japanese, so he assumes the islands must be near India. Columbus refers to the natives as 'Indians,' and continues to believe that he has actually made it to India.