In the early 1400s, Europeans knew little about the world beyond their continent. Many sailors would have heard stories of treacherous seas and sea monsters that destroyed any ship trying to cross the ocean. The sailors would hear these stories and become superstitious. They wouldn’t want to take a journey that they believed would most likely claim their lives.
On the other hand, maritime travel had the potential to earn sailors great wealth and prosperity. European nations wanted to find sea routes that would allow them to continue to trade with Asian merchants. If they were one of the first nations to do so, they would be able to increase their wealth and get the materials they needed to help their nations prosper.
