Sea explorations were made by many countries centuries ago. These were headed by the European countries long back. The impulses or urges that influenced the explorers are to desire to take hold of other land for territorial expansion.
Another very important thing to consider as well was the trading. One country had to exchange products to another country. Hence, there were need for them to cross the seas.
The answer is B because I just had the question not to long ago
The countries the Britain conquered and we ruled those countries
B: Japan was prevented from invading Australia.
Before the Civil War, the Free-Soil movement and the Republican Party embraced this idea for the American West: a territory reserved for small white farmers, unchallenged by the wealthy plantation owners who could buy up vast tracts of land and employ slave labor.