Here are the key reasons behind his endeavors:
1. Economic Incentive: Reaching the East by sea would allow Portugal to avoid paying high prices for spices and other valuable goods to Arab and Italian merchants who controlled the overland trade routes. This direct access to Asian goods would boost Portugal's economy and make it a major trading power.
2. Expansion of Trade: Prince Henry believed that exploration would open up new markets for Portuguese goods, especially in Africa and Asia. By establishing trade routes, Portugal could expand its influence and wealth.
3. Technological Advancement: Prince Henry was interested in the sciences of navigation, cartography, and astronomy. His expeditions helped to improve navigational tools and techniques, leading to advances in maritime technology and exploration.
4. Spread of Christianity: Prince Henry held a strong religious conviction and believed that exploration could lead to the spread of Christianity to non-Christian regions, thereby fulfilling a perceived divine mission.
5. Exploration of Uncharted Territories: Prince Henry was driven by a spirit of adventure and curiosity to explore uncharted territories and discover new lands. He viewed exploration as a way to gain knowledge and understanding of the world.
Prince Henry's expeditions laid the foundation for Portugal's later achievements as a global maritime power and initiated the Age of Exploration. His original purpose of reaching the East by sea was the driving force behind the establishment of a Portuguese trading empire and the exploration of the African coast and beyond.