Final answer:
The motivation not factoring into European explorations circa 1500 was the desire to populate far-off lands with European offspring. The primary factors were God, glory, and gold, including religious zeal, economic gains, and national prestige, not settlement for populating new lands with Europeans. Option d is the answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the motivations of European explorers circa 1500, the one that was NOT a factor was D) A desire to populate far-off lands with European offspring. The main motives for European exploration were commonly referred to as God, glory, and gold. Religious motivations drove nations like Spain and Portugal to convert cultures to Christianity and reclaim land from Muslim control. Explorers also sought to gain great wealth through trade, precious metals, and other resources. Additionally, a strong incentive was the hope to bring glory to their sponsoring countries through successful ventures and the discovery of new territories.
These motives led to significant investments in improving navigational technologies, establishing new trade routes, and spreading religion. However, large-scale European settlement and populating new lands with offspring were not primary factors during this period of exploration; this came later with colonial expansion. In fact, Europeans first tried to meet labor needs by enslaving indigenous populations and using indentured European laborers before turning to African slave labor when these sources were inadequate.