Answer:
They were often launched in the hopes of finding alternative sailing routes to Asia
Explanation:
Portugal was not the only country interested in the emerging lands of the northwest Atlantic. Both England and France were concerned to stake their claims as well, disputing the right of the Pope to divide the world between Spain and Portugal.
Like the Portuguese, they were interested in establishing the geography of the region, and were especially interested to find out whether a viable westerly route to Asia actually existed. This was the primary reason for those English voyages which took place after Cabot. By contrast, the French were as interested in the potential of the fisheries, and the other resources which the region had to offer and also trying to find an alternative route to Asia.
The leaders were searching for many things one of them being wealth (gold)
There was a well developed and a highly efficient system of water management from the village level upwards in 900-1270 AD.The water tanks which came up during Chola Dynasty were too many but one stand out.Rajendra Chola built a huge tank named Solagangam in his capital city Gangaikonda Solapuram and was described as the liquid pillar of victory.About 16 miles long, it was provided with sluices and canals for irrigating the lands in the neighbouring areas.Another very large lake of this period, which even today seems an important source of irrigation was the Viranameri near Kattumannarkoil in South Arcot district founded by Parantaka Chola. Other famous lakes of this period are Madurantakam, Sundra-cholapereri, Kundavai-Pereri (after a Chola queen).
