The most direct effect of the Crusades on European exploration is the development of better ships and improved navigation. The Crusades led to increased interaction between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, encouraging advancements in maritime technology and navigation techniques. This improvement facilitated further exploration beyond the Mediterranean, ultimately contributing to later expeditions like those of the Age of Discovery.
While competition between Europeans and Muslims to discover new lands and the focus on land for colonization were influenced by the overall spirit of competition that arose from the Crusades, improvements in shipbuilding and navigation were more directly linked to the technological advancements that arose during and after the Crusades. The other options, such as the destruction of monasteries by Vikings, are not relevant to the context of European exploration spurred by the Crusades.
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