When finding a route from Africa to India, Portugal benefited in several ways. First, it established commercial colonies throughout the journey, on the African and Indian coasts, which gave it an economic power in the area superior to that of other European powers.
Second, it stopped paying taxes to Muslims for the use of a route that was not of their own, to become the owner of an alternative route.
Third, Portugal controled the spice traffic through this new route, which gave it great power in Europe
.
<span>The aim of Portugal in the Indian Ocean
was to ensure the monopoly of the </span>spice
trade<span>. Taking advantage of the rivalries that pitted
Hindus against Muslims, the Portuguese established several forts and trading
posts between 1500 and 1510. In </span>East
Africa<span>, small </span>Islamic<span> <span>states along
the coast of </span></span>Mozambique<span>, </span>Kilwa<span>, </span>Brava<span>, </span>Sofala<span> <span>and </span></span>Mombasa<span> <span>were
destroyed, or became either subjects or allies of Portugal.<span> </span></span></span>
Because they were tolerant of different beliefs and encouraged trade between different cultures along the Silk Road, ensuring the safety of traders traveling along the trade routes.
