Probably more than any other country, Portugal influenced progress of navigation and sailing. Prince Henry built a school for sailors and trained them to use maps and compasses. This training made them better sailors, and exploration became safer. Ships were able to sail farther to look for new land and trade routes. In 1498, Captain Vasco da Gama sailed from Portugal, around the southern tip of Africa, all the way to India and the Spice Islands. This new sea route became a busy trade route.
