What historical event increased the European appetite for goods from Asia? Why?

I can't really think of anything but the Silk Road and how silk, spices, and other goods caused a spike in trade from Europe to Asia, fun fact: This led to Europeans hoping that they could bring silk worms back to Europe with them to make their own silk, but the environment wasn't correct for it to thrive and they ended up either dieing or being incapable of producing silk.