The European Explorers were originally in search of what?   1 pointa) Beaver fur and lumberb) A sea route to Asiac) Canadad) The United States of America

The European explorers were originally in search of b) A sea route to Asia.

During the Age of Exploration, which spanned from the late 15th century to the early 17th century, many European nations sought new trade routes to access the riches of Asia, particularly spices, silk, and other valuable goods. The traditional overland routes to Asia were long, perilous, and controlled by various empires, which often made trade slow and costly. Explorers like Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Vasco da Gama aimed to find a more direct sea route to Asia, specifically to unlock trade opportunities and assert their countries' dominance in global trade.

Columbus famously embarked on his journey in 1492 believing he could reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, which ultimately led to the unexpected discovery of the Americas instead. Thus, while beaver fur and lumber, as well as lands like Canada and what we now call the United States, became important later on, the primary goal of early European exploration was to find a viable sea route to Asia.