Question

the background to the first voyage of columbus: before the crusades (a war between the christians & the muslims in the middle east, for control over the holy land, land trade routes were created that connected europe with east asia. these routes were very long and often dangerous. at the end of the 15th century, it was nearly impossible to reach asia from europe by land. after taking over control of the holy land, the muslims now controlled, and limited access to, the trade routes from europe to asia. for the europeans, the routes were long and dangerous, and encounters with hostile muslim armies and thieves were difficult to avoid. as you already read, the portuguese explorers solved this problem by taking to the sea: they sailed south along the west african coast and then east around the cape of good hope (southern tip of africa) looking for a \water route\ to asia. 6. what made it difficult for the europeans to continue their trade (over land) with asia? but columbus had a different idea: since it had long been discovered that the earth was round, why not sail west across the atlantic ocean to get to asia. the young navigators logic was sound and his study of marco polos journeys convinced him that the circumference (distance around) of the earth was small and that a voyage by ship from europe to asia would be not only possible but even faster than the south - eastern route around africa. sailing into the unknown was certainly a risk, but one that columbus was willing to take. he just needed a country willing to provide the ships and crew.

Explanation:

The text states that by the end of the 15th - century, Muslims controlled the Holy Land and limited access to trade routes from Europe to Asia. The over - land routes were long, dangerous, and encounters with hostile Muslim armies and thieves were hard to avoid.

Answer:

Muslim control of the Holy Land limiting access, long and dangerous routes, and encounters with hostile forces and thieves made it difficult for Europeans to continue over - land trade with Asia.