Part 7/8:
As the Silk Road began to lose its status with the rise and fall of empires, particularly evident with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, the need for new trade routes drove European exploration. The disintegration of old pathways catalyzed a search for alternate routes that would allow Europe to continue accessing Asia's eastern luxury goods, especially spices.
During the late Middle Ages, spices in particular became highly sought-after commodities, influencing economies and social structures across Europe. The control of trade routes increasingly necessitated maritime exploration, ultimately transforming the trading landscape of the Old World forever.