Which of the following factors contributed to european global exploration during the 15th and 18th centuries
a a desire to acquire new sources of gold and natural resources
b a desire to escape aggressive invasions by the ottoman empire
c a desire to create more impressive luxury goods in china
d a desire to spread the ideology of absolute monarchy around the world

The best answer is A.

Europeans had just developed galleons or ships that could navigate more easily throughout the world including Africa. 

Easier access to foreign lands encouraged European nobles and merchants to seek out new territories in an effort to acquire wealth and natural resources such as  gold and raw materials to  feed mother industries back home.

Extracting raw materials from foreign lands provided  the fuel for the industrial revolution in Europe and the practice of slavery provided Europeans with a new source of labor power.