Final answer:
Fernando Magellan and Christopher Columbus were explorers sponsored by Spanish monarchs to find new routes for trade and to expand Catholicism, reflecting Spain's competitive spirit with Portugal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fernando Magellan and Christopher Columbus share several similarities in their historical roles as explorers. Both were motivated by the desire to expand Catholicism and secure a commercial advantage over Portugal. This was a time when Spanish monarchs, like Ferdinand and Isabella, were providing extensive support to expeditions for Atlantic exploration. Columbus, a Genoese navigator, had the vision to find a westward route to India, aiming to boost European trade and spread Christianity. Despite initial rejections from multiple monarchs, including Ferdinand and Isabella, he was finally granted funding after the Reconquista. Columbus embarked on his journey in 1492 with three ships: the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. Likewise, when Ferdinand Magellan, also seeking a westward route, wasn't funded by the Portuguese, he turned to the Spanish king who provided the necessary support. Both explorers were part of a broader context where European nations sought new trade routes and the spread of Christianity, often driven by rivalry with other powers such as Portugal.