Gold resource first attracted Portuguese explorers to the region of West Africa.
Answer: Option D
Step-by-step explanation:
Although it was not a part of their agenda, the Portuguese exploring the West African coast was an unexpected expedition. The west African countries like Ghana, Benin, Songhai, Mali and Kongo boasted a rich history of civilizations.
The arrival of the Portuguese created a demand for gold in Portugal as West Africa boasted a lot of gold reserves, leading to supply of gold resources from West African nations to Portugal. It was shipped directly.