At the time of Columbus’ discovery of America, Europe was in a state of war. The Crusades - a series of wars against Islamic territory along the eastern Mediterranean, especially modern day Israel - brought about trade contacts with the East. When the Mongols were in power in the East, trade from the East came to the European continent through the Byzantine Empire and then by sea to Venice and Genoa. The city-states of Venice and Genoa had become the chief trading centers for the import of spices and other commodities from the Far East. Trade with the Muslims and later with China led to the spread of scientific and technological know-how from the Muslims.
Their knowledge of mathematics, astronomy and navigation was far superior to th
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