Marco Polo & India

Marco Polo an Italian was famous for his discoveries of exotic lands, but his contribution to making India a sought after spice destination is equally fascinating. It all started with his father and uncle setting out on a 9 year business trip to Asia, followed by a 2nd trip with young Marco Polo 2 years later. The 3 travellers came back to Venice 26 years laters in tatters and their tunics stuffed with the wealths of the far-away lands. Among other things they mentioned the abundance of cinnamon, pepper and ginger in the Malabar coast of India.

His stories were narrations to fellow prisoners as he was put in captivity when Venice and Genoa fought a war in 1298. Polo used the term millions soo much in speaking of great wealth that he was given the nickname of "Marco Millioni". While later explorers like Columbus and Cook merely touched the coastal regions of the lands they discovered, Polo accurately described the inland continent of Asia and it's people.

Portuguese mariners and the sea route to India

Prince Henry of Portugal established a naval college in 1418, this led to a generation of Portuguese mariners who slowly opened the sea-route to India. Starting from Europe, they first reached the westeren coasts of Africa in 1420 and more in 1445. Diaz reached the southern coast of Africa in 1486, and finally Gama sailed all the way around the southern most tip of Africa to the Indian Malabar coast.

Of interest is the fact that the Portuguese ships first crossed the equator in 1471, prior to which geographers thought that the area (equator) was a flamingly hot and uninhabitable zone..

Christopher Columbus and the quest for India

Columbus was a competent mariner, who came up with the idea to reach India by sailing west. He got no support for his plan in his native Italy, he then approached the Spanish royalty, who finally agreed to fund his project. He sailed the Atlantic and reached the islands of West Indies, and eventually the Americas. He did not find the spices, and the riches of Asia, instead he found the native Americans and various other edibles unknown to Europe like yams, kidney beans, maize, cassava roots, tobacco, and many new kinds of fruits and nuts. The hammock was another new discovery which was adopted by the European sailors.

Columbus retured to Europe a hero and made 3 more trips to the Americas, still eager in his quest for India, eventually in 1502 he was blocked by the landmass which has now become the Panama canal. He died in obscurity convinced to the very end that he had reached the fringes of the fabulous East. History takes it's time to unfold it's secrets as the Panama canal did provide a way to the Pacific and the riches of the far east, also we know about the Gold Rush of California centuries later.