Read the excerpt and answer the question below.
“european leaders concluded that the muslims’ power fed upon the wealth generated by their control of the most lucrative trade routes. by paying premium prices to muslim merchants for the gold and ivory of sub-saharan africa and for the silks, gems, and spices of asia, european consumers enriched the islamic world while draining wealth from christendom. . visionary europeans hoped to weaken their enemy and enrich themselves by seeking an alternative trade route by sea.”
-historian alan taylor, american colonies, 2001
according to the passage, which of the following best explains the most important effect that religious competition had on europe?