Final answer:
The British and Dutch governments promoted exploration and colonization by granting trade monopolies to the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company, which regulated trade and established colonial empires. The Dutch were known for their liberal policies and naval prowess, while the English passed the Navigation Acts to control trade and increase their maritime power.
Step-by-step explanation:
British and Dutch Governments Support for Exploration
The British and Dutch governments supported exploration and colonization through the granting of monopolies to private companies like the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company.
These monopolies limited competition, regulated the prices for foreign goods, and fostered domestic goods being sold abroad. Both the Dutch and the English aimed to establish colonial empires to secure national wealth and power.
The Netherlands became a thriving intellectual and religious haven, which bolstered its economic and naval strength. The Dutch West India Company focused on fur trade and sought to control valuable ports and resources in the New World.
In contrast, the English government passed the Navigation Acts in the 1650s and 1660s to control trade and shipping, which ultimately enabled England to overtake the Dutch as a leading commercial empire. The English sought to stimulate shipbuilding, increase government revenue, and train more sailors for their growing navy.