The Age of Exploration: What Did They Trade on the High Seas?

Maritime Trade Routes and Global Commerce in the 15th-18th Centuries

So, the other day I was rewatching One Piece, and I suddenly wondered, “Did countries in real history really compete so fiercely to set sail across the oceans like in the anime?”
Curious about the mix of animated imagination and historical reality, I dove into some books and documentaries about the Age of Exploration and maritime trade history.

What I found was fascinating! The goods traded on the seas back then were way more diverse than just gold and treasure. Actually, some unexpected items shaped the world order in big ways.
In this article, I want to take you on a quick journey through the 16th-century maritime marketplace to see what people bought and sold, and why it all mattered so much.

The Age of Exploration: Changing Global Trade Forever

For centuries, international trade mainly happened along big rivers like the Nile or coastal areas close to land.
But in the late medieval period, when Portugal pioneered the sea route around Africa to India, and Spain stumbled upon the Americas, the whole idea of global commerce shifted.
The ocean was no longer just a path—it became the stage for worldwide trade.

The sailors of this era weren’t just seafarers; they were explorers, merchants, and sometimes pirates, each writing their own chapter in history.
Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands led the way, each with their own unique strategy for dominating the seas and trade.

Portugal: The Combat Meta — Military Control of Trade Routes

Portugal rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean, but they weren’t the only players. Powerful Islamic empires already ruled spice trade networks there.
Portugal couldn’t just casually join the trade—they had to change tactics. Instead of peaceful trading, they took a “combat meta” approach, seizing forts along the coast and using military power to control key routes.

Their prized treasures? Spices, especially black pepper and cloves. They set up strongholds in places like Malacca, Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), and India’s west coast, collecting spices from local traders as tribute before shipping them to Europe around Africa’s southern tip.

Besides spices, China’s tea and porcelain also became hot items. Portugal even negotiated with China to lease Macau as a trading hub.
They also introduced European firearms to Asia — Portuguese matchlock guns reached Japan first, and Ming China got introduced to European-style cannons called “Folangji cannons.”

Oh, and here’s a spicy fact — Portugal brought chili peppers from Brazil, spreading the “heat” that changed cuisines worldwide. Imagine a world without that fiery kick in food!
So from pepper to guns to chili peppers, Portugal’s military-backed trade was a powerful (and sometimes brutal) way to dominate the seas.

Spain: The Exploration Meta — New World Discoveries and Silver Trade

Spain aimed west to find India but accidentally stumbled on the Americas. After conquering the lands, they parceled them out to nobles like medieval fiefdoms and shipped goods back to Europe.
At first, it was mostly timber, but then they struck gold — literally and figuratively — with silver and gold mines in the New World.

The famous Potosí silver mines in Bolivia produced huge amounts of silver that impacted the global economy. This silver flowed from the Americas to Europe, then was used to buy Asian goods, creating a worldwide silver network.
China and India became major silver holders during this time.

Spain didn’t stop at the Americas — they crossed the Pacific to secure Manila in the Philippines and created the Manila Galleon trade route between Mexico and Asia, connecting continents like never before.

New crops like potatoes and tobacco also traveled the world through Spanish trade. Potatoes were once feared as “devil’s plants,” but later saved Europe from famine. Tobacco was hailed as a “gift from God,” though today, we know better.

The Netherlands: The Commercial Meta — Corporate Maritime Dominance

Last but not least, the Netherlands joined late but revolutionized trade in a modern way.
After gaining independence from Spain, they launched the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in 1602 — the world’s first joint-stock company and a forerunner of modern capitalism.

Operating like a mini-nation, the VOC set up trading posts across East Asia, centering on Batavia (modern Jakarta) on Java Island — the spice capital.
They expanded to India, Persia, and even Japan, controlling production and trade rather than just brokering deals.

The Dutch dominated high-end spices like pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and mace. They also transplanted crops like coffee and cacao to new parts of the world, kickstarting the global plantation system.

The Legacy of Maritime Trade Routes

The Age of Exploration wasn’t just about setting sail — it was a dramatic competition of strategies. Portugal fought with military might, Spain explored and colonized, and the Netherlands built modern commercial empires.
Just like how the internet has connected our world today, people back then experienced their own “global revolution” through maritime trade.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Age of Exploration

<Recommended Book for Further Reading>

• Age of Discovery: 500 Interesting Facts About the European Exploration During the Early Modern Period by Ahoy Publications
• What Was the Age of Exploration?  by Catherine Daly
• The World Made New: Why the Age of Exploration Happened and How It Changed the World by Marc Aronson