European nations started looking for a water route to Asia because they wanted to establish direct trade routes with Asia to obtain valuable goods such as spices, silk, and precious metals. The existing overland trade routes, like the Silk Road, were long and dangerous, making it difficult and expensive to obtain these goods. Moreover, the Ottoman Empire, which controlled key land routes, imposed high taxes and tariffs on goods passing through their territories, increasing the cost for European merchants. Therefore, finding a direct sea route to Asia would not only reduce the cost and time of trade but also help European nations bypass the Ottoman Empire's control over the spice trade.
