The sixteenth- and seventeenth-century maritime exploration efforts by england, france, and the netherlands were most directly connected to which of the following historical processes?
a. the protestant reformation and the catholic reformation

b. economic competition against spain and portugal and a desire to find a new sailing routes to asia.

c. the transfer of engineering and navigational knowledge from the classical and islamic worlds to europe.

d. the need to ease population pressures in europe by establishing settlement colonies.

The correct answer is B. Economic competition against Spain and Portugal and a desire to find a new sailing routes to Asia.

Explanation

During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in Europe, the main mercantile connections were with Asia because the great Asian civilizations such as India, China, and communities in the Middle East had products such as spices, paper, gunpowder, and many other objects that they were not common in Europe. Therefore, the European powers were in the task of discovering their commercial routes to avoid the busiest roads and thus avoid the possible theft of their products. This caused maritime trade routes to be developed surrounding Africa until Spain found the American continent during the 15th century. From this discovery as a sign of their economic competition, countries such as the Netherlands, France, and England launched into the sea to find new merchant routes to Asia and get products more easily, demonstrating their power against Portugal and Spain. So, the correct answer is B. Economic competition against Spain and Portugal and a desire to find a new sailing routes to Asia.

the influence of charles louis de secondant , baton montesquieu.