Final answer:
The Portuguese did not want to travel overland to Asia due to long and dangerous land routes controlled by rival empires. Maritime exploration and the discovery of a direct sea route to Asia made traveling by land less attractive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Portuguese did not want to travel overland to Asia due to several reasons. Firstly, land routes were long, dangerous, and controlled by rival empires such as the Ottoman Empire. Secondly, maritime exploration had become a focus for Portugal, and they had developed advanced shipbuilding techniques and navigation methods.
Additionally, Portugal had a strategic advantage being located on the western coast of Europe, allowing them to take advantage of the prevailing wind patterns in the Atlantic Ocean. This enabled them to sail directly to Africa and establish trade routes along the coast, eventually reaching India and other parts of Asia.
The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and reached India by sea in 1498, which proved that it was possible to find a direct route to Asia by bypassing the dangerous land routes. This discovery further solidified the Portuguese focus on maritime exploration and trade.
Learn more about Reasons why the Portuguese did not want to travel overland to Asia