Concept:The first Portuguese voyages to West Africa were driven by economic motives, especially access to gold and spices.
Explanation:In the 15th century, Portuguese explorers sought a sea route to the spice trade and searched for gold along the West African coast.
They established trading posts rather than large colonies at first.
Their main focus was commercial exchange: gold, pepper, ivory, and spices.
The trans-Atlantic slave trade became significant only later, from the 16th century onward.
Religious conversion and colonial settlement were secondary or later aims.
Answer:D. Trading gold and spices