France and England both knew that the trade with Asia could bring a great amount of wealth to their countries, but the trade routes at the time were dangerous to travel. This was a major concern for both England and France, and was a cause for search of a northwestern trade route.
They wanted to compete with the Portuguese and Spanish territories and explorations. Portugal was setting a trade route along the coast of Africa, so this encouraged both nations to fins a quicker route in the northwest.
Most of the routes were passing over Muslim lands, and you needed to trade with Turks, Arabs, Persians, and Musilims as well. Because of heavy Christian-Muslim tensions, paying to these people was considered to be out of the rule by some English and French rulers. So they were actually trying to "bypass" their enemies to get all the Asian items they wanted.
