The primary motive for the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century European voyages of exploration and discovery was the desire to
A) spread Christianity around the world.
B) verify the new scholarly theory that there were undiscovered continents.
C) gain direct access to the goods of Africa and Asia.
D) establish naval control of the seas.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The main motivation for European exploration during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was to gain direct access to the goods and resources of Africa and Asia. Europeans were looking for new trade routes, particularly for spices and other luxury goods, which at the time were only obtainable through intermediaries who controlled existing trade routes. This desire for access to more trade goods led to the exploration and colonization of new territories. While spreading Christianity and establishing naval control of the seas were both important factors in European exploration, they were not the primary impetus for the voyages.

The Primary Motive for the Fifteenth- and Sixteenth-Century European Voyages