Which of the following is a reason the Europeans wanted to find a maritime route to the East?(1 point)

Question

Responses

They were hoping to establish their own home base on foreign soil to control the prices of goods.
They were hoping to establish their own home base on foreign soil to control the prices of goods.

They feared for their safety on the Silk Road with the Mongol Empire collapsing.
They feared for their safety on the Silk Road with the Mongol Empire collapsing.

They wanted to establish diplomatic relations with China quickly, and a maritime route would be a faster way to get there.
They wanted to establish diplomatic relations with China quickly, and a maritime route would be a faster way to get there.

They were hoping to beat the Ottomans in establishing trading posts in the Indian Ocean.

Answer 1

The most relevant reason among the options provided for why Europeans wanted to find a maritime route to the East is:

They were hoping to beat the Ottomans in establishing trading posts in the Indian Ocean.

This choice highlights the competitive nature of European powers during the age of exploration, as they sought new trade routes and access to valuable goods, such as spices, silks, and other commodities that were controlled by the Ottomans and other intermediaries on the traditional land routes. The desire to establish direct trade routes to bypass these intermediaries was a major driving factor behind maritime exploration.