which of the following best explains why the Portuguese expanded into the Indian ocean?
The Portuguese empire wanted to find a route to the Caribbean sugar trade.
The Portuguese developed superior technology, and the Indian Ocean was an ideal environment to test it out.
The Portuguese heard of the building of the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire.
With the Ottoman capture of Constantinople, the Portuguese had to find another route to access the Asian spice trade.
With the Ottoman capture of Constantinople, the Portuguese had to find another route to access the Asian spice trade.
The correct answer is: "With the Ottoman capture of Constantinople, the Portuguese had to find another route to access the Asian spice trade."
Explanation: To get the answer, you need to evaluate the options and determine which one aligns with the historical context of the Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean.
Option 1, which mentions the Caribbean sugar trade, is incorrect because the Portuguese were primarily focused on accessing the Asian spice trade, not the Caribbean.
Option 2, which suggests that the Portuguese expanded due to their superior technology, is not the best explanation because although the Portuguese did possess advanced maritime technology, it was not the primary driving factor for their expansion into the Indian Ocean.
Option 3, which mentions the building of the Taj Mahal, is unrelated to the Portuguese expansion and can be disregarded as an explanation for their actions.
Option 4, which refers to the Ottoman capture of Constantinople, is the most accurate explanation. After the Ottomans took control of Constantinople in 1453, they cut off the traditional overland trade routes to Asia. This forced the Portuguese to seek alternative routes by navigating around Africa and into the Indian Ocean in order to access the lucrative spice trade. Therefore, the Portuguese expansion into the Indian Ocean was a response to the new geopolitical situation caused by the Ottoman Empire's actions.