With the help of explorer and sea captain, Vasco de Gama, Portugal set up a trading empire in the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese were motivated to find an alternate sea route to obtain the goods of Asia, instead of paying heavy sums to Italian merchants, who worked and sold these goods throughout the Mediterranean Sea before. Vasco de Gama made several trips to the area and helped develop the Portuguese Trading Empire in the region. His first trip lasted two years and started in 1497, he was to make several return trips.