<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishKwa sababu ya hilo, Ureno ikawa karibu na mamlaka ya kibiashara ya Mashariki na Magharibi, na kwa sababu hiyo, nguvu za ushindani za mataifa mengine ya Ulaya zikaanza kuchochewa.  <response>: Portugals resulting near-monopoly of East West trade understandably awakened the competitive instincts of other European powers. 