Answer :
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In the context of Spain and Portugal's financing of exploratory expeditions from 1400 to 1550, the primary reasons they did so were:
1. They sought new trade routes to Africa and Asia: Both Spain and Portugal aimed to find new trade routes to these regions in order to access valuable resources like spices, silks, and other goods directly, thus bypassing the costly and monopolistic trade routes controlled by Italian merchants.
2. They wanted to spread Christianity and combat the spread of Islam: One of the motivations behind the expeditions was to spread Christianity to new lands and combat the influence of Islam, particularly in regions like Africa and Asia where Islamic empires held sway. This religious zeal was a significant driving force behind their exploratory endeavors.
Their rulers were not required to do so as part of their obligations to the pope: While the Catholic Church did play a role in endorsing and supporting these expeditions through papal bulls like the Treaty of Tordesillas, the primary reasons were the pursuit of trade routes and the spread of Christianity.
I hope this clarifies the reasons behind Spain and Portugal's financing of exploratory expeditions during this period. Let me know if you need further explanation!