What was important about the scientific innovations discovered under the rule of Prince Henry the Navigator?
A. Prince Henry the Navigator provided Columbus with the funding he needed to build the most innovative ships in Europe.
B. The famous discoveries of the Portuguese inspired countries to compete for new colonies and trade routes.
C. The innovations made under Prince Henry the Navigator led the Portuguese to be the first to land in the Americas.
D. The scientific discoveries of the Portuguese allowed for navigation of the North Sea and trade with Viking merchants.
Not D
To determine the correct answer, we need to analyze the information given and eliminate the options that do not align with historical facts.
Option A states that Prince Henry the Navigator provided Columbus with the funding needed to build innovative ships in Europe. However, this is not accurate, as Prince Henry died in 1460, more than 30 years before Columbus set sail in 1492. Additionally, Columbus was funded by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, not Prince Henry of Portugal. Therefore, we can eliminate option A.
Option C suggests that the innovations made under Prince Henry the Navigator led the Portuguese to be the first to land in the Americas. This is also incorrect. The Portuguese did not reach the Americas before Christopher Columbus. Columbus made his famous voyage across the Atlantic in 1492, while the Portuguese first reached the Americas in 1500 with the arrival of Pedro Álvares Cabral in Brazil. Thus, option C is incorrect.
Option D claims that the scientific discoveries of the Portuguese allowed navigation of the North Sea and trade with Viking merchants. However, this doesn't align with historical evidence. The Portuguese explored the Atlantic Ocean and the coasts of Africa, Asia, and South America, but they did not navigate the North Sea or establish trade with Viking merchants. Thus, option D can also be eliminated.
By process of elimination, we can conclude that the correct answer is B. The famous discoveries of the Portuguese inspired countries to compete for new colonies and trade routes. The advancements in navigation and shipbuilding made by Prince Henry the Navigator and the Portuguese explorers played a significant role in stimulating exploration and trade among European nations during the Age of Discovery.