How did Vasco da Gama’s success in opening a seagoing trade route to Asia help Portugal?

Vasco da Gama’s voyage around Africa opened a direct sea route between Portugal and Asian markets. Portugal used this route to establish trading posts and control valuable commerce in spices and other goods, helping it build a trading empire. Portugal had traded with Asia before through land and intermediary routes, so the route did not make trade possible for the first time.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.