They funded expedition becasue they were looking for a new sea route to India,after the rise of the ottoman and the Persian.
Portugal were the leaders in the exploration.Under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal took the principal role during most of the fifteenth century in searching for a route to Asia by sailing south around Africa. As a result of their success in various trade routes, other kingdoms and rulers saw the lucrativeness and embarked on funding similar expeditions.
