Final answer:
Countries funded expeditions to seek new trade routes, resources, and economic growth, which led to the establishment of colonies and the financing of wars. Private investors and trading companies played significant roles in funding these ventures. These explorations also pursued religious spread, national glory, and adventure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Countries funded expensive and risky expeditions during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries due to multiple compelling motivations. The desire for economic expansion through establishing new trade routes and securing valuable resources was a primary driver. This period saw the growth of city-states into countries and empires, which necessitated the discovery of new markets to sustain their expanding economies.
Colonies were established to secure these markets, and wars were financed to take over territory. Financing these ventures involved raising capital from private investors as well as establishing large trading companies. These companies sold stocks and bonds to finance their enterprises around the world, enabling the growth of international trade and economic development.
Furthermore, expeditions were perceived as opportunities to spread religion, achieve national glory, and satiate the thirst for adventure. The combination of these motives led to an era of rapid exploration, fueled by advancements in navigational technology and the quest for wealth and national prestige.