Question

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The discovery of sea routes to Asia and America shrank the pre-modern world in the sixteenth century.
Reason (R): During this period European entry into the Indian Ocean expanded trade.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Hint:

The {Age of Exploration} connected Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas through maritime trade routes. This expansion of global trade networks is a key reason historians say the early modern world became more interconnected.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: The discovery of new sea routes during the Age of Exploration (15th–16th centuries) significantly increased global connections. European navigators such as Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus opened new maritime routes that linked Europe with Asia and the Americas. These discoveries increased interaction between continents, expanded trade networks, and made distant regions more interconnected, effectively making the world seem smaller. Step 1: {\color{red}Analyze the Assertion (A).} The discovery of sea routes to Asia and America allowed Europeans to directly access new lands and markets. This increased contact between different parts of the world, improving communication and trade connections. As a result, the geographical and economic distance between regions reduced, which metaphorically “shrunk” the pre-modern world. Hence, Assertion (A) is true.
Step 2: {\color{red}Analyze the Reason (R).} European entry into the Indian Ocean trade network after the discovery of sea routes significantly expanded global trade. Portuguese traders, for example, began establishing trading posts along the Indian Ocean coast, linking European markets with Asian goods such as spices, textiles, and precious commodities. Thus, Reason (R) is also true.
Step 3: {\color{red}Determine the relationship between (A) and (R).} The expansion of trade due to European entry into the Indian Ocean is one of the main reasons why global connections increased. This expansion of maritime trade networks contributed to making the world more interconnected, which explains how the world appeared to “shrink.” Therefore, Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).