Economic Motives:
- Trade: European nations sought new trade routes to access valuable goods, such as spices, gold, silks, and other exotic items from Asia.
- Mercantilism: Exploring and claiming new lands allowed nations to expand their empires, acquire resources and establish colonies, which boosted their wealth and power.
Political Prestige and Power:
- National Glory: Nations competed for prestige and glory by undertaking daring expeditions and claiming new territories.
- Imperial Expansion: European nations aimed to expand their empires overseas to increase their political influence and power in the world.
Technological Advancement:
- Navigation Tools: Improvements in navigation tools like the astrolabe and compass enabled sailors to calculate latitude and longitude, making long-distance travel more feasible.
- Shipbuilding: Advancements in shipbuilding techniques, such as the development of larger, sturdier ships like the carrack, allowed for safer and longer journeys.
Religious Motives:
- Missionaries: Some explorers were driven by a desire to spread Christianity and convert indigenous peoples in newly discovered lands.
Scientific Curiosity:
- Exploration and Discovery: Explorers were motivated by the pursuit of scientific knowledge and a thirst for discovery of new plants, animals, and geographical features.
Here are some countries that sponsored explorations during that period:
Portugal:
- Prince Henry the Navigator: He sponsored numerous expeditions along the west coast of Africa, seeking a sea route to India and establishing trading posts.
- Vasco da Gama: Portuguese explorer who successfully reached India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498.
Spain:
- Christopher Columbus: Financed by the Spanish crown, he set out in search of a western route to Asia and landed in the Americas in 1492, marking the beginning of European exploration of the Americas.
- Ferdinand Magellan: Sponsored by Spain, Magellan's expedition circumnavigated the globe for the first time, setting sal in 1519.
England:
- John Cabot: Italian-born explorer who received royal patronage from England and conducted expeditions to North America
France:
- Jacques Cartier: Explored the St. Lawrence River in North America, claiming the region for France
Dutch Republic:
- Henry Hudson: Explored the Hudson River and other parts of North America, establishing Dutch presence in the region
Russia:
- Ivan the Terrible: Sent expeditions to explore Siberia an Eastern Europe
Ottoman Empire:
- Admiral Piri Reis: Ottoman cartographer who created detailed world maps based on exploration and information gathered from seafarers.
These countries, among others, played crucial roles in sponsoring explorations during the 1400s and 1500s, leading to significant geographical discoveries, the expansion of trade routes, and the rise of European powers and colonization in various regions of the world.