The ultimate task of all the explorations launched by the Europeans from the fourteenth century onward was?
A. finding a sea link between Europe and the wealthy civilizations of Asia.
B. establishing European political dominion over all of Asia.
C. perfecting European knowledge of navigation and astronomy.
D. winning their longstanding competition with Islam.
To find the answer to this question, we can analyze the context of European explorations during the fourteenth century and onward. This period marked the beginning of the Age of Exploration, when European countries sought to expand their influence and seek new trade routes. Let's examine the options one by one:
A. Finding a sea link between Europe and the wealthy civilizations of Asia: This option aligns with the main objective of many European explorations during this time. The Europeans were seeking a direct sea route to Asia to access its valuable goods and trade with wealthy Asian civilizations.
B. Establishing European political dominion over all of Asia: While some European countries did establish colonial territories in Asia, such as the British in India or the Dutch in Indonesia, the primary goal of European explorations was not to establish dominion over all of Asia. It was primarily driven by economic and trade interests rather than a desire for political control.
C. Perfecting European knowledge of navigation and astronomy: While improving knowledge of navigation and astronomy was indeed a secondary objective for many explorers, it was not the ultimate task of all European explorations. The main objective was to find trade routes and establish economic dominance.
D. Winning their longstanding competition with Islam: While there were historical conflicts and competition between European powers and Islamic civilizations, it was not the ultimate goal of European explorations during this time period.
Based on the analysis, the most accurate answer is A. finding a sea link between Europe and the wealthy civilizations of Asia.