French sponsorship

Definition

French sponsorship refers to the financial and political support provided by the French monarchy or government for explorations, expeditions, and colonization during the Age of Exploration.

Analogy

Think of French sponsorship as a parent (the French monarchy) funding their child's (explorer's) road trip across the country. The parent provides money for gas, food, and lodging in hopes that their child will discover something new or beneficial on their journey.

Related terms

Monarchy: A form of government with a monarch at the head. In this case, it was the French monarchy sponsoring exploration.

Colonization: The action or process of settling among and establishing control over indigenous people of an area. This was often a goal of sponsored explorations.

Age of Exploration: A period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century during which European ships traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners. This is when French sponsorship occurred.