Spain and Portugal Government Funding

Definition

During the Age of Exploration (15th-17th centuries), Spain and Portugal's governments funded many exploratory voyages to discover new lands and establish colonies for economic gain.

Analogy

Imagine you're playing an adventurous video game where you need coins to unlock new levels or characters. In this case, Spain and Portugal are like players who invest their coins (funds) into unlocking new levels (lands) for more rewards (resources).

Related terms

Age of Exploration/Discovery: A period from the early 15th century that saw European countries embark on extensive overseas exploration primarily driven by technological advancements in navigation.

Colonization: The act by a country of sending settlers to inhabit an area and establish political control there - something both Spain and Portugal did extensively with their government funding.

Imperialism: A policy or ideology of extending a country's rule over foreign nations, often by military force or by gaining political and economic control. This was the ultimate goal behind Spain and Portugal's government funding.