With a Christian Middle East, would the Age of Discovery happened?

It is my understanding that the Age of Discovery was caused by Christian traders in Europe pushing for alternative trade routes that weren't controlled by Muslim states. If those states had instead been Christian (let's try to limit butterflies where feasible), would the same push had been there? Would land routes be focused on, or would it just be the Byzantines the Dutch and Portuguese try to escape the grip of?
 
It is my understanding that the Age of Discovery was caused by Christian traders in Europe pushing for alternative trade routes that weren't controlled by Muslim states. If those states had instead been Christian (let's try to limit butterflies where feasible), would the same push had been there? Would land routes be focused on, or would it just be the Byzantines the Dutch and Portuguese try to escape the grip of?

Assuming no significant change to the situation except that Egypt-Syria is Christian ruled (wanked Crusader States, Byzantium controlling the area, who cares?)?

Yes. Yes it would.

They're still middle men abusing their position ( "I bought up all the pepper from the East, meaning I can set the price at what I feel like." style stuff ).
 

Whangadude

Banned
I'm pretty sure that to the Arab traders, being Christian or Muslim would not have changed their desire for profit and having a controlling monopoly on the spice trade. The shear tyranny of distance is what made prices high, not religion, I think.
 
Assuming no significant change to the situation except that Egypt-Syria is Christian ruled (wanked Crusader States, Byzantium controlling the area, who cares?)?

Yes. Yes it would.

They're still middle men abusing their position ( "I bought up all the pepper from the East, meaning I can set the price at what I feel like." style stuff ).

Without Islam, Catholicism VS Orthodoxy may be a MAJOR clash, and an incentive...

And this may not butterfly troubles from a nomadic people invasion, maybe...
 

PhilippeO

Banned
what if Egypt and Syria on different hands ? they cannot create monopoly then. isn't during Venice Golden Age, Venice can play Egypt and Syrian port against each other to get better price ?

while there are middleman costs, the cheaper shipping cost, just to Eastern Mediterranean, would benefit against more risky, high investment of sending convoy to Africa and Indian Ocean.
 
Without Islam, Catholicism VS Orthodoxy may be a MAJOR clash, and an incentive...

And this may not butterfly troubles from a nomadic people invasion, maybe...

Why?

Up to the end of the Byzantine Empire, while there were plenty of wars against Catholic countries, there's scarcely a glimmer of it being Catholicism vs. Orthodoxy as much as more - in a word - secular causes.

Not sure why that would suddenly appear - its not like Protestantism, which is outright (supposedly) heresy.
what if Egypt and Syria on different hands ? they cannot create monopoly then. isn't during Venice Golden Age, Venice can play Egypt and Syrian port against each other to get better price ?

I'm not sure how far that would go, since a power controlling Egypt is going to want to secure Syria.

while there are middleman costs, the cheaper shipping cost, just to Eastern Mediterranean, would benefit against more risky, high investment of sending convoy to Africa and Indian Ocean.

The Portugese would disagree. Given how wealthy they got, I think they're right.
 
Eventually it'll happen. It'll be delayed, but not that much.

Even with Christian states in the Middle East, Portugal will still be circumnavigating Africa and probably run into Brazil at some point. Basque fisherman will still be off the coast of Newfoundland, and the Bristol merchants will seek a northwest passage and Hy-Brasil.

All of the Atlantic powers will seek to break the spice monopoly of Venice and Genoa. Without Muslim control of the Levant, there may be less incentive, but it is still there.

All that is required is proof that some land exists between Europe and Asia to the west. Exactly when that happens is pure chance, but probably still happens before 1600. A fifty year delay sounds right by me.
 
Top