Reasons+for+the+Portuguese+explorations

toc =Religious reasons=
 * The Portuguese wanted to **spead christianity**.

=Comercial reasons=
 * They needed to find **new trade routes to the spices** land (in India) because the Turks (Muslims) had conquered the Byzantine Empire and had taken the control of the route of the spices (which was called the trade route of silk). Spices were very important in the Middle and Modern Ages because they were only way of preserving food, specially meat.
 * Cosequently, the europeans had to pay heavy taxes to get to the spices.

=Intelectual reasons=
 * The **Renaissance** men were **very adventurous** and they wanted to know more and more every day.

=Technical reasons= ▪ The **compass**: it has two needles which are always pointing to the north and to the south. It is used to locate your position on the Earth. This way, ships could move farther from the coast. ▪ The **rudder**: it is an articulated piece of wood or metal used to steer a ship. ▪ The **astrolabe**: it is an object used to locate your position on Earth thanks to the orientation of the stars.
 * ** Navigational instruments ** that helped the orientation during navigation were created:
 * ** Ships were improved, ** like the caravel, which could transport more people and cargo and travel faster and more distances.
 * ** Portulan charts ** were created. They showed the coastline, the obstacles at sea and the best natural ports.

=Other reasons=
 * ** The portuguese army was expert ** because it had been fighting during the Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula and the Kingdom of Portugal was on an excellent geographical position for exploring.
 * **The portuguese thought that there was a Chistian Kingdom in the south of Africa**, governed by a king called Prestor John. They wanted to become his allies and conquer together the Islamic Empire.