3 Main Early Explorers-

- Vasco da Gama: left Lisbon with an army of ships headed for India, the voyage was difficult going both ways and many didn't survive, not to mention that most Indian merchants were rather uninterested in the products Gama wanted to trade, however, upon his return he learned that what little he did get was very profitable, which encouraged multitudes of voyages to India and new strategies for getting there

- Dom Henrique: conquered Moroccan port of Ceuta, sent a series of voyages down Western Africa, merchants established strategic ports along the coast, which brought in many new materials and products and plenty of money, Henrique's legacy continued as trade only increased in these ports after his death

- Christopher Columbus: proposed a new route of getting to Asian markets, he had scientifically flawed ideas of the earth and it's shape and therefore believed a voyage from Europe to Asia would be profitable, got sponsorship from Spain and departed with 3 ships in August 1492, Columbus ended up on an island in the Bahamas, thinking it was the indies he named the natives "Indians", he searched all over the islands looking for gold and returned to Spain reporting that he had found the islands just off the coast of Asia

3. Describe the early success of Portuguese explorers like, Vasco da Gama.