A reply to /u/geralddevos

I hope this isn't a homework question ;-).

Here are some starting points. Portugal was the first European power to invest heavily to find an eastward path to the Indies, by sailing around Africa.

Spain felt threatened by this, and financed Columbus' westward exploration even if his proposal was deeply flawed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3nphg8/portugal_was_never_the_envy_of_europe_right/cvq87qc

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/35szs5/why_werent_portugal_or_netherlands_muscled_out_by/cr7mbig

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3wwrpw/in_1492_columbus_sailed_to_the_new_world_how_long/cxzp2kh