The coalition grew from shared commercial interests. Mamluk Egypt depended heavily on revenue from trade passing between the Red Sea and Mediterranean, so the Cape route threatened the state's finances. Venice helped with galley design, Mediterranean-style carracks, and maritime expertise, while Genoa provided quieter support because both faced the loss of their commercial position. Calicut, Gujarat, and the Mamluks could therefore cooperate with Catholic Italian powers against Catholic Portugal. Religion supplied a public justification, while trade, revenue, political survival, and revenge explain the alignment more fully.
Chapter · 39:50-50:30
A commercial coalition against Portugal
Egypt, Venice, Calicut, Gujarat, and other partners had commercial reasons to resist a Portuguese route that threatened the trade revenues passing through their territories.