What was the main motivating factor of Christopher Columbus’s and Vasco da Gama’s maritime voyages?(1 point) Responses Columbus wanted to gain access to the Indian Ocean and da Gama wanted to gain access to the New World. Columbus wanted to gain access to the Indian Ocean and da Gama wanted to gain access to the New World. Columbus wanted to acquire Portuguese territories and da Gama wanted to gain Spanish territories. Columbus wanted to acquire Portuguese territories and da Gama wanted to gain Spanish territories. Columbus wanted to gain access to the spice trade and da Gama wanted to gain access to the silk trade. Columbus wanted to gain access to the spice trade and da Gama wanted to gain access to the silk trade. Columbus wanted to be the first explorer to sail around Africa and da Gama wanted to claim glory.
The correct answer is: Columbus wanted to gain access to the spice trade and da Gama wanted to gain access to the silk trade.
The correct answer is: Columbus wanted to gain access to the spice trade and da Gama wanted to gain access to the silk trade.
The main motivating factor for Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama's maritime voyages was to gain access to new trade routes and lucrative markets.
To find the answer, we need to understand the historical context of their voyages. During the 15th century, there was a growing desire among European powers, particularly Spain and Portugal, to find alternative trade routes to the East, bypassing the established overland routes controlled by the Ottoman Empire. These overland routes were long and expensive, which made the goods from the East, such as spices, silk, and precious metals, extremely expensive in Europe.
Columbus believed that by sailing west, he could reach the lucrative spice markets of the East, primarily the Indian Ocean. His main goal was to establish a new trade route that would allow Spain to bypass the established Venetian and Ottoman monopoly on the East-West trade. He sought royal patronage and financial support from the Spanish monarchy, hoping to enrich himself and his sponsors with the wealth of the East.
On the other hand, Vasco da Gama's motivation was slightly different. He aimed to find a direct sea route to India, circumventing Africa. By doing so, he intended to establish trade relations with the wealthy Indian subcontinent, which was known for its lucrative silk and spices trade. Da Gama's voyage was sponsored by the Portuguese monarchy, and his main objective was to secure Portugal's dominance in the spice trade by creating direct trade links with India.
In summary, both Columbus and da Gama were primarily motivated by economic reasons and the pursuit of wealth through access to new trade routes and markets, rather than acquiring territories or personal glory.