Oriental Influences

Once the conquest of America was firmly established, Pope Alexander VI divided the conquered lands and their routes to Europe between Spain and Portugal. The eastern route from Europe to Asia, around Africa and into the Indian Ocean, went to the Portuguese. The western route from Europe to Asia was Spain’s. Eventually Spain ruled the Pacific from western South America to the Philippines, and shared the Far Eastern trade with Portugal. From the great Asian port of Manila, Oriental goods bound for Spain traveled to Mexico on the twice-yearly voyages of the powerful galleon called the Nao de China. This was how Mexico was introduced to silk, porcelains, and many spices.