<P> The spice trade was made possible by the maritime trade route . In 1498 , the Portuguese navigator , Vasco da Gama , sailed round the Cape of Good Hope and opened up a sea route from Europe to India . Bringing home samples of exotic oriental products , da Gama greatly increased European interest in the new trade route and the new trade route quickly facilitated the expansion of trade . Eventually , the Dutch wrestled control of it from the Portuguese in the 17th century , and in the 18th century , the British gained control of it from the Dutch . Nevertheless , the spice route greatly increased trading activities , deepened the economic relations between Europe and Southeast Asia and as a result , more European merchants found their way to Southeast Asia . </P>
<P> The spice trade was made possible by the maritime trade route . In 1498 , the Portuguese navigator , Vasco da Gama , sailed round the Cape of Good Hope and opened up a sea route from Europe to India . Bringing home samples of exotic oriental products , da Gama greatly increased European interest in the new trade route and the new trade route quickly facilitated the expansion of trade . Eventually , the Dutch wrestled control of it from the Portuguese in the 17th century , and in the 18th century , the British gained control of it from the Dutch . Nevertheless , the spice route greatly increased trading activities , deepened the economic relations between Europe and Southeast Asia and as a result , more European merchants found their way to Southeast Asia . </P>
where did the primary threat to portuguese control of southeast asia come from
where did the primary threat to portuguese control of southeast asia come from
the Dutch
the Dutch