Final answer:
Europe's initial increased interest in transoceanic travel during the late 15th and early 16th centuries was primarily driven by the high demand for Asian products in Europe and the need to find a viable ocean route to Asia for trade. Religious zeal also played a role in sponsoring missionary work in the New World.
Step-by-step explanation:
The initial increased interest in transoceanic travel during the late 15th and early 16th centuries was primarily driven by the high demand for Asian products in Europe and the need to find a viable ocean route to Asia for trade.
Transporting goods along the Silk Road was expensive and slow due to taxes and fees imposed by Muslim middlemen, making it necessary for Europeans to search for alternative routes.
Religious zeal also played a role, as many European monarchs sponsored missionary work in the New World.