Europeans, for their part, were equally unaware of the existence of the Americas.
Blond bearded Norse seafarers from Scandinavia had chanced upon the northeastern shoulder of North America about 1,000 C.E. They landed at a place near L'Anse aux Meadows in modern day New Foundland that abounded in wild grapes, which led them to name the spot Vinland.
But no strong nation-state, yearned to expand, supported these venturesome voyagers. Their flimsy settlements consequently were soon abandoned, and their discovery was forgotten, except in Scandinavian saga and song.
For several centuries thereafter, other restless Europeans, with the growing power of ambitious governments behind them, sought contact with the wider world, whether for conquest or trade.
They thus set in motion the chain of events that led to a drive towards Asia, the penetration of Africa, and the completely accidental discovery of the new world.
Christian crusaders must rank high among America's indirect discoverers. Clad and shining armor, tens of thousands of these European warriors tried from the 11th to the 14th centuries to wrestle the holy land from Muslim control.
Foiled in their military assault, the crusaders nevertheless acquired a taste for the exotic delights of Asia.
Goods that had been virtually unknown in Europe now were craved—silk for clothing, drugs for aching flesh, perfumes for unbathed bodies, colorful draperies for gloomy castles, and spices—especially sugar, a very luxury in Europe before the crusaders—for persevering and flavoring food.
Europe's developing sweet tooth would have momentous implications for world history.
The luxuries of the East were prohibitively expensive in Europe. They had to be transported enormous distances from The spice Islands (Indonesia), China, and India, in creaking ships and on swaying and camelback.
The journey let it cross the Indian ocean, the Persian gulf, and the Red Sea were long the torturous caravan roots of Asia or the Arabian peninsula, ending at the ports of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Muslim middleman exacted a heavy toll en route. By the time the strange smelling goods reached Italian merchants at Venice and Genoa, they were so costly that purchasers and profits alike were narrowly limited.
European consumers and distributors were naturally eager to find a less expensive route to The riches of Asia order develop alternative sources of supply