Who was the first European to go to Asia?

1519–: Leaving Spain with five ships and 270 men in 1519, the Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan is the first to reach Asia from the East.

When did Europe Discover Asia?

The earliest example of European travels to the Asia goes all the way back to around 515 BC and the famous Greek explorer and writer Scylax of Caryanda. One of his most famous journeys brought him to the river Indus, Indian Sea, Red Sea and finally to the western end of Suez.

When did Europeans first travel to China?

Polo’s 13th Century journey to China was the first to be well-documented. However, Chinese historians recorded much earlier visits by people thought by some to have been emissaries from the Roman Empire during the Second and Third Centuries AD.

How did Europe view Asia?

Many Europeans regarded Asia as having a “strong economy” and “cheap trade” and being “overpopulated.” Other terms included “poor,” “floods” and “tsunami,” as well as “developing,” “exporters” and “money.” Food figured highly, with “spices” and “rice” common choices, as were the admiring terms “history” and “culture.”

What route did the Portuguese explorers follow to get to Asia?

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama completed the eastern sea route to Asia when he reached India by sailing around Africa in 1498. Another Portuguese explorer, Pedro Cabral, tried to follow Vasco da Gama’s route but swung so wide around Africa he reached Brazil in South America.

When Did Marco Polo Go to China?

1275
Marco Polo’s travels to Asia (1271–95), immortalized in his Travels of Marco Polo. Marco, his father, and his uncle set out from Venice in 1271 and reached China in 1275. The Polos spent a total of 17 years in China. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

What separates Asia from Europe?

the Ural Mountains
In the east, the Ural Mountains separate Europe from Asia. The nations of Russia and Kazakhstan straddle both continents.

What did Asia get from Europe?

As well as spices and tea, they included silks, cottons, porcelains and other luxury goods. Since few European products could be successfully sold in bulk in Asian markets, these imports were paid for with silver. The resulting currency drain encouraged Europeans to imitate the goods they so admired.