Question

had portuguese traders never set out for south asia by ship in the 1400s, it is likely that
a portugal would not have reached north america first.
b portugal would have protected africans from being enslaved by europeans.
c another european country might have reached africa first.
d another european country would have been protected from the black plague.

Explanation:

• Option A: Portugal's exploration of South Asia and reaching North America are not directly linked in this causal way.
• Option B: Portugal was involved in the slave trade, so they wouldn't have protected Africans from European enslavement.
• Option C: During the Age of Exploration, if Portugal didn't go to South Asia, other European powers (like Spain, England, etc.) were competing and likely would have reached Africa (a key exploration target) first.
• Option D: The Black Plague was a medieval epidemic, and Portugal's South Asia exploration in the 1400s has no relation to protecting another country from it.

Answer:

C. another European country might have reached Africa first.