Islam controlled the land routs to Asia and the European rulers and merchants were powerfully interested in finding non Moslem controlled alternate routes.
Yes, plus ‘in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue’...and 1492 also not by coincidence commenced the Spanish Inquisition under Torquemada. The large Jewish population of both Spain and Portugal was caught between being dhimmie to the Moors and ‘starter’ for the flaming stake of the newly powerful Spanish prelate, his Church and forced conversion. Thus we have Rodrigo, navigator to Columbus, Jewish and subject of a brief, but researched commentary by Will Durant and his histories.