How Did Portuguese Influence Indian Ocean Trade

In the mid-15th century, the Portuguese, led by Bartolomeo Diaz, sailed to discover India. However, they ended up on the East Coast of Africa due to ocean wind trades that drove them up into the Indian Ocean. There inhabitants in Africa led them to discover new peoples and material that they believed would help them control the trading system. However, going into the early 17th century, the Portuguese failed to take control of trade over multiple attempts. They were unable to change the way that they deal with trade in order to appeal to the Africans and other neighboring countries. The Portuguese tried to enforce rules on their trading posts to regulate their own trading system, but they were too small. They were also unable to contribute
However, the Portuguese approached this the wrong way. The Indian Ocean trade was successful and all of the countries participating in this trade were getting the materials that they needed without extra cost. The Portuguese were not open-minded enough to understand their methods of trade in order to learn from their successes. Instead, they tried to lead it in another direction such as militarizing the trading system. If the Portuguese took the time to participate in their trade routes and familiarize themselves with the rules, they would find ways to accommodate everyone and successfully lead the ocean trade. Another strong suite that the Portuguese could have offered was their technique in dominating and advancing their sailing ships. They combined lateen sails and square rigs while putting artillery aboard ships. This allowed them to become superior over other countries when sailing across the oceans for land discoveries. If they would have made allies with the Swahili and Omani peoples in in Africa, they would have been wanted on the coast which would have been a lot easier to get to know and control trade. Others also might say that the Portuguese had great strategies to take over the trade whether they had allies or not. They were able to take control of many ports that lead the Seas and Ocean, controlling how traders would enable to come in and out of trade. However, during times when they wanted to control canals and ports, they would run out of goods and water to keep those ships out there. All of the actions of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and their behavior toward the Swahili and the Omani result in their loss of control to the Omani. The Omani have a lot more knowledge and allies which allowed them to be respected by the inhabitants of Africa and surrounding