8. The dutch, English, and french explorers of the 1500's and 1600's were seeking

A. a direct water route to asia****
B. english speaking native americans
C.the gold of the Aztect empire
D. corn, tobacco, and squash

Correct

It's b

To find the answer to this question, we can first analyze the options provided:

A. a direct water route to Asia
B. English speaking Native Americans
C. the gold of the Aztec empire
D. corn, tobacco, and squash

The Dutch, English, and French explorers of the 1500's and 1600's were driven by various motivations. One major motivation was their desire to find a direct water route to Asia (option A). This was commonly referred to as the Northwest Passage, a dream that explorers and sailors had for centuries.

By finding a shorter and easier trade route to Asia, these European nations hoped to bypass the dangerous and costly overland routes (such as the Silk Road) controlled by the Ottoman Empire. They expected to secure a profitable advantage in the lucrative spice trade, which was highly sought after in Europe at the time.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is A. a direct water route to Asia.