God, Glory, and Gold
So that it could make an empire, meaning it would be richer and would be considered a major power in Europe like Spain and France.
Portugal
Economic motives, political motives, and religious motives. From Zook.
Hernando Cotes major exploration
Diaspora
Portugal was the major player in the exploration of the African Coast during the 15th Century, but many others joined in. I suggest that you look up Henry the Navigator. He was the major driving force behind these voyages.
exploration
The three major stages of the English language are Old English (450-1150 AD), Middle English (1150-1500 AD), and Modern English (1500-present). Each stage is characterized by distinct changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
The era of European exploration is generally accepted to have begun in the mid-15th century and lasted until the early 17th century. During this period, a number of European countries, including Spain, Portugal, France, and England, began to explore and colonize portions of the Americas and the Pacific. Some of the major milestones of this era include: 1492 - Christopher Columbus voyages to the Americas for Spain 1498 - Vasco da Gama rounds the Cape of Good Hope for Portugal 1519 - Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztec Empire for Spain 1520 - Ferdinand Magellan's expedition circumnavigates the globe for Spain 1607 - Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas, is foundedSo, the era of European exploration began in the mid-15th century and ended in the early 17th century.
They didn't. At the time of the major explorations (16th to 18th century) nobody had even any idea that Leif Ericson ever had been in the Western Hemisphere. That was only discovered in the 20th century.
AFrican coast
to find Vinland