What was the significance of the expedition led by bartolomeu dias? a. it paved the way for the first european voyage to the americas. b. it established a direct trade network between portugal and india. c. it proved that it was possible to sail from europe to the indian ocean. d. it led to spanish colonization of the americas and the philippines. how did the defeat of the aztec and incan empires enrich the spanish monarchy? a. spain began to levy heavy taxes on its american colonists. b. spain sold its lands in the americas to other european countries. c. the monarchy received a portion of all treasures taken by the conquistadors. d. spain took control of the slave trade between africa and the americas. how did the introduction of horses affect native american culture? a. farming improved because native americans had horses to plow the fields. b. native americans in some culture areas began to use horses for hunting and in warfare. c. the use of horses as transportation increased trade between different culture groups. d. some native american groups became wealthy selling horses to european colonists. what role did vasco da gama play in the growth of a portuguese empire? a. he claimed the east coast of south america for portugal. b. he led the first european expedition to reach india by sea. c. he established the line of demarcation. d. he was the first to suggest the use of captured africans as slave labor. why did dutch colonies in the americas fail to attract as many settlers as english colonies did? a. fewer people were dissatisfied with life in the netherlands than in england. b. the economy of the netherlands was much weaker than that of england. c. the dutch colonies were more difficult to reach by sea than the english colonies.