Final answer:
John Cabot's home country was Italy, but he sailed for England under Henry VII's reign. Cabot's voyages laid the groundwork for later English claims in the North American mainland, although initial explorations and colonization were led by Spain and Portugal.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Cabot's home country was Italy. He was a Venetian mariner living in London when he sailed on behalf of England during Henry VII's reign. This was England’s first significant overseas exploration and it led to the discovery of parts of what would become Canada, claimed in the name of Henry VII. While John Cabot was funded by English royalty, his roots and original nationality tie back to Italy.
Portugal and Spain were prominent early players in the Atlantic exploration and colonization of the Americas. Portugal was the country that initiated the era of Atlantic exploration. It was also a Portuguese explorer, Pedro Cabral, who first reached Brazil and claimed it for the throne of Portugal. Spain established the first colonies in the Americas. These endeavors paved the way for other European powers, including England, to establish their presence in the New World.