During the 16th century, Spain and Portugal explored the world's seas and opened world-wide oceanic trade routes. • Philip II of Spain, Dom Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus • the continuing expansion of international commerce and the consequent rise of new exchange centres. • the island world - proliferation of trading centresgrowing world demand for the region's products. • the expanding market for fine spices encouraged Javanese, Malay and Chinese traders to deal directly with sources of supply in the eastern islands.