spices
Have a search at www.booksheaven.com I could findThe March of Literature from Confucius' Day to Our Own. Cheers
In search of shorter trade routes
The Age of Discovery, also known as the Age of Exploration, was a period in history starting in the 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which Europeans engaged in intensive exploration of the world, establishing direct contacts with Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania and mapping the planet. Historians often refer to the 'Age of Discovery'[1] as the pioneer Portuguese and Spanish long-distance maritime travels in search of alternative trade routes to "the Indies", moved by the trade of gold, silver and spices.
the search
The year that Verrazano search for a route to the Indies through the continent was in 1525. The mistook Chesapeake Bay to be an opening through to the North American continent to China.
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_de_Verrazzano), he was the "first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America...in 1524". Most notably, he traveled from France to New York Bay, stopping also at Cape Fear and Narragansett Bay.
a
It was France.
He was in search of the West Indies or a path that lead to the West Indies.
Giovanni da Verrazano was a famous Florentine explorer. In 1524, he was commissioned by King Francis I to search for a Northwest Passage to Asia through North America.
Verrazano
Google has an "image" search mode. Enter that mode, type in a name, and you will find images to choose from. Here's one of many that I found for Verrazano:
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Verrazano, Cartier, and Hudson were all explorers who searched for a western sea route to Asia or a passage to the Pacific Ocean. They were seeking a quicker and more direct route for trading goods with Asia.
King Francis I of France sent him to look for a sea route west to Asia.
john cabot