Option C) competition between Europeans and Muslims to discover new lands is a direct effect of the Crusades on European exploration. The Crusades sparked a desire among Europeans to regain control of the Holy Land from the Muslims, creating a significant rivalry between the two sides. This rivalry extended beyond the conflicts in the Holy Land and extended to their quest for exploration and expansion. The European desire to find new trade routes, resources, and territories became a direct result of the competition generated by the Crusades.