European colonisation of Southeast Asia tightening Turkish control and eventual shut down of the Eastern Mediterranean gateways into Asia first prompted Portuguese, and later Spanish and Dutch sea voyagers to ship around Africa in search of new trading routes and business opportunities. Niccolò de' Conti arrived in Southeast Asia as the earliest documented European in the early 15th century. By 1498 Vasco da Gama, who had sailed round the Cape of Good Hope, established the first direct sea route from Europe to India. Central among the various plannings was to establish direct and permanent trade of the highly priced spices, that were native to Southeast
Turgai Sea separated Europe from Asia." The division of the Eurasian landmass by the Turgai Sea had the effect of isolating animal populations. Perhaps best known to laypeople were the horned dinosaurs called Ceratopsia of the Cretaceous Period, which were restricted to Asia and western North America (which were connected for much of this era). The existence of the Turgai Sea also restricted various freshwater fish and amphibians. The Turgai Sea derives its name from a region of modern-day Kazakhstan, with its Turgai River and Turgai Valley. Turgai Sea The Turgai (or Turgay) Sea or Turgai Strait, also known as the West