Spain in a "Resurgent Roman Empire" scenario that has eyes on the New World

So as title really.

Typically I've seen many people argue that a Roman Empire that recovers Egypt (and later Africa) wouldn't have an interest, or would be too late to the game to take advantage of the New World when found (possibly by someone 100 years before).

However, assuming that the Roman Empire fights for it, and has some success, I'm curious as to the importance of holding (and the later effects of that) on Spain? Lets assume that this is a Better First Crusade scenario where the Romans have the Levant restored and later conquer Egypt (so weird Latin issues in the Levant, peripheral to focus).

What are the impacts of Spain being both the gateway between the Old and New Empires? Would the capital move from Constantinople? Or at least where the Emperor rules (minor difference I know).

---- CLARIFICATION ----

1) First Crusade is a good and long-lasting change for the Roman Empire.
2) This eventually leads to the reconquest of Egypt and Africa. (Italy optional).
3) The New World is found.
4) The Romans express an interest in the new world, and are triumphant (i.e. they have a significant hand in the New World).
5) Assume that Spain succeeded at its reconquista.

What does this do to Spain?
 
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I'm sorry, I don't think that the question is very clear. How does Spain become part of the Byzantine Roman Empire with a First Crusade POD? Or are you asking what impact a resurgent Byzantine Empire would have on Spain in the Age of Exploration?
 
I'm sorry, I don't think that the question is very clear. How does Spain become part of the Byzantine Roman Empire with a First Crusade POD? Or are you asking what impact a resurgent Byzantine Empire would have on Spain in the Age of Exploration?

Fair play.

The situation can be an either or (I'll re-edit the OP to make it clear)

1) First Crusade is a good and long-lasting change for the Roman Empire.
2) This eventually leads to the reconquest of Egypt and Africa. (Italy optional).
3) The New World is found.
4) The Romans express an interest in the new world, and are triumphant (i.e. they have a significant hand in the New World).
5) Assume that Spain succeeded at its reconquista.

What does this do to Spain?
 
Fair play.

The situation can be an either or (I'll re-edit the OP to make it clear)

1) First Crusade is a good and long-lasting change for the Roman Empire.
2) This eventually leads to the reconquest of Egypt and Africa. (Italy optional).
3) The New World is found.
4) The Romans express an interest in the new world, and are triumphant (i.e. they have a significant hand in the New World).
5) Assume that Spain succeeded at its reconquista.

What does this do to Spain?
Does the ERE discover America or Spain does? The ERE would have a really hard time asserting influence in America withput and atlantic port and their treasure fleet or merchant fleets would be really easy preys for pirates (both atlantic and mediterranean pirates). I just don't see countries outside of western europe doing anything with America due sheer logistics.
 
Fair play.

The situation can be an either or (I'll re-edit the OP to make it clear)

1) First Crusade is a good and long-lasting change for the Roman Empire.
2) This eventually leads to the reconquest of Egypt and Africa. (Italy optional).
3) The New World is found.
4) The Romans express an interest in the new world, and are triumphant (i.e. they have a significant hand in the New World).
5) Assume that Spain succeeded at its reconquista.

What does this do to Spain?

By interest, are you expressing that the Byzantines export it’s undesired population to the New World?
 
Actually I think that the ERE wouldn't be that interested in the Americas because they have an even better source of revenue. They can sail directly from the Red Sea to India. I think a resurgent ERE would possibly be in a good position to start making moves there that we saw Portugal make in our history. Of course they will now face the same difficulties that the Ottomans faced in doing the same thing.

Depending on Spain (and western Europe's) relationship with the ERE I think it's very possible that they would continue on roughly the same trajectory of exploration and colonization in a search for trade routes that are not controlled by the ERE.
 

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The only way I could see the Eastern Roman Empire colonizing the New World is if they conquered Spain (and Portugal) and made it a lasting part of their empire, which is difficult to see with a 1090s POD. By that time the Byzantines had already lost most of the institutional, technological, or organizational advantages they may have had over the other realms in Europe, and would steadily lose the rest within a few centuries.
 
From the thread title I thought this was going to be about a Western Roman Empire based in Spain colonizing the Americas
 
Does the ERE discover America or Spain does? The ERE would have a really hard time asserting influence in America withput and atlantic port and their treasure fleet or merchant fleets would be really easy preys for pirates (both atlantic and mediterranean pirates). I just don't see countries outside of western europe doing anything with America due sheer logistics.

Either or is fine with me. I personally would expect that it was Spain (see the reasoning of @Escape Zeppelin ) even if the Romans happened to rule Italy. Why would the Romans go west to India when they have a perfectly good route and monopoly. Prestige? More likely that an explorer would then go to Spain who have a strategic advantage if they can deprive their rivals in Constantinople the income from trade.

The latter part about pirates is why I asked about impact - I fully expect that if the Romans were serious (and have the reasons to be), then they could fundamentally shut down piracy with fleets based in Africa and abroad - which may certainly lead to some heads being butted (who exactly is a pirate for example? That Spanish count 'sponsoring piracy' in the Balearics for example?)

By interest, are you expressing that the Byzantines export it’s undesired population to the New World?

I hadn't considered that, but it is a peculiar proposition. Depends what you consider undesired? America as a Roman Australia? Heretic deportation? Many possibilities, depends. If the intent is to extract wealth, probably not.

Actually I think that the ERE wouldn't be that interested in the Americas because they have an even better source of revenue. They can sail directly from the Red Sea to India. I think a resurgent ERE would possibly be in a good position to start making moves there that we saw Portugal make in our history. Of course they will now face the same difficulties that the Ottomans faced in doing the same thing.

Depending on Spain (and western Europe's) relationship with the ERE I think it's very possible that they would continue on roughly the same trajectory of exploration and colonization in a search for trade routes that are not controlled by the ERE.

I agree, hence the comment in the OP. I wonder when it stopped being feasible to re-establish the Pharaohs canal, and became more feasible to build Suez. Those really are the options for improving the Romans odds.

The only way I could see the Eastern Roman Empire colonizing the New World is if they conquered Spain (and Portugal) and made it a lasting part of their empire, which is difficult to see with a 1090s POD. By that time the Byzantines had already lost most of the institutional, technological, or organizational advantages they may have had over the other realms in Europe, and would steadily lose the rest within a few centuries.

Perhaps that is an outcome? I would expect any scenario to see Spain as a likely rival (alongside the Italian city states) for domination over the Mediterranean. Perhaps the discovery (and a panicked expedition from Africa/Mauretania) leads to a full-on attempt to reconquer Spain before it is too late. Leaning on what must be a combination of technogical advantage (i.e. Gunpowder for slightly longer), and potential numerical superiority. That and wealth, dominating trade in Mediterranean via the Red Sea trade could fund an invasion at the cost of an earlier canal?

Perhaps looking @John7755 يوحنا 's suggestion of deporting undesirables, capturing pirates, and offering a deal of "Death, or become Privateers in the New World", focusing on causing the Spanish and anyone else complete and utter grief under black flags, before refitting at a Roman port in the Caribbean.

From the thread title I thought this was going to be about a Western Roman Empire based in Spain colonizing the Americas

Cool idea, if one survived and the East fell. Alas.

Also @yourworstnightmare - lol. Thanks.
 
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