In Europe, in the early 1400s, most people lived very simply. They had just enough to survive.
But nobles and very rich people had many fancy things. They had spices, silks, fine china, and other luxuries. Many of these came from Asia. Italian and Arab traders were the only people bringing goods from Asia. So they were able to charge high prices. Many European rulers wanted to find ways to reach Asia by ship. That way, their own merchants could trade directly with Asia. They could stop paying high prices to Italian and Arab traders.
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