Question

Identify the products that first attracted European merchants to Asia.
A. wool cloth
B. enslaved people
C. precious metals (gold and silver)
D. spices

Answer 1

The products that first attracted European merchants to Asia were primarily **D. spices**. Spices such as pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves were highly sought after for their use in food preservation, flavoring, and medicinal purposes. While other options like wool cloth and precious metals were also important in trade, spices were a primary motivator for early European exploration and trade routes to Asia.