The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Although there are no options attached we can say the following.
The initial explorers set off in which cardinal direction to reach Asia?
These explorers headed East to reach Asia. The kingdom did they set up trade with was the Timurid Empire, located in the territories of the Middle East.
The European that is credited with ushering the age of exploration was Prince Henry.
Prince Henry of Portugal (1394-1460) was the most important figure that supported the Age of Exploration because he loved navigation. Indeed he was known as Prince Henry, the navigator. He was so interested in exploring that he funded a school of navigation and sponsored many expeditions to the Middle East, India, and west Africa.