This is a stupid question, but I'm watching History of The Entire World...I Guess, for the 70th time because I'm bored during lockdown.
During the video there's a part where he mentions that the Ottoman Turks blocked off Europe from the Indian Spice Trade, and Portugal decided to completely sail around Africa to find it's way to India.
Why not go around the Black Sea? Or Through the Black Sea, even? As far as I know, there's NO geographical border to block them from going around, but to be fair geography definitely isn't my strong suit.
Thank you!
To go to the black sea you have to pass the incredibly narrow Bosporus strait, that goes through Konstantinopole, current Istanbul, which was the capital of the Ottoman empire. And then, when you're in the black sea, it's actually a dead end. Black sea is not connected to the Indian Ocean and India is not bordering it. Little spice trading will be going on there.
Source Black Sea https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fn4qepdUwGDnNQdS8