Portugal–Spain relations of Good Hope. An expedition headed by Vasco da Gama was sent on a diplomatic and trade mission to India. He followed the route of Dias until he reached Malindi (Kenya) in East Africa. Da Gama bombarded the town and took Indian hostages. Portugal was able to establish a commercial post in Cochin, a port southwest of India. In 1509, another Portuguese explorer, Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, successfully reached Malacca, an important trade center in Southeast Asia. Spain came into the scene much later. After completely defeating the last Moorish (Muslim) stronghold on the Iberian peninsula, King Ferdinand and Queen
Portuguese discovery of the sea route to India warn that both the routes would explored by the Portuguese Crown. There is news of an Italian merchant who spread the good news in Florence. The merchant refers to Melinde. With the opening of the sea route to the East Indies, the Venetians, who controlled the trade of the Mediterranean, bought pepper from the Portuguese, at half the price they paid to the Arabs in Egypt. The fall of the Venetian monopoly on the spice trade in Europe and the resulting drop in prices of spices contributed to the commercial development of the continent. Portuguese discovery of the sea route