At the time of Columbus" discovery of America, Europe was in a state of war. The Crusades - a series of wars against Islamic territory along the eastern Mediterranean, especially modern day Israel - brought about trade contacts with the East. When the Mongols were in power in the East, trade from the East came to the European continent through the Byzantine Empire and then by sea to Venice and Genoa. The city-states of Venice and Genoa had become the chief trading centers for the import of spices and other commodities from the Far East. Trade with the Muslims and later with China led to the spread of scientific and technological know-how from the Muslims. .
Their knowledge of mathematics, astronomy and navigation was far superior to that of the Europeans then. This knowledge from the Orient helped Europeans make ships sail faster. Marco Polo, visited and spent 20 years in the Far East. His written records on his journey in the East gave Europeans first-hand information about the geography and civilization of the Orient. It also gave them valuable information about the technological advances made by China then, especially the invention of the gunpowder. This put Europe on the path of technological revolution and superiority. This increase in trade fueled the growth of cities which in turn vastly increased the wealth of Europe. This caused a rise in the power of monarchs .
The beginning of the fourteenth century saw the rise of the Ottoman Turks. Soon the Ottoman Empire was ruling over a vast territory from West Africa to Indonesia, including the Indian Ocean. The rise and expansion of the hostile Ottoman Empire affected trade in Europe. Spices and other goods could no longer be carried overland to Constantinople. Now ships had to sail to the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf. From here, they went to Europe via ports in Africa and Turkey. The long route coupled with the tolls that the ships had to pay on the way drastically raised the price of spices in Europe.
