Even though portugal was a small country, why was it important during the age of exploration?

portugal had more seaports than any other nation.
the traders of india and africa would deal only with the portuguese.
christopher columbus originally came from portugal.
henry the navigator set up his maritime school to train sailors in portugal.

the discoverers and explorers: 1. natives showed jedediah smith the way. 2. william sublette was the first cross it with a caravan. 3.joel walker and his family were the frist settlers to use it. the jumping off point: 1. founded in 1827 near where the missouri river flows into the mississippi. 2. by the 1840's, it was the most popular "jumping off" point for pioneers to stock their wagons with supplies. 3. missionaries from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints attempted to make independence their zion, or holy capital. the route west: 1. the first emigrants to oregon came by ship before the trail was established. 2. ships continued to to travel to oregon even after the overland migrations began, but they were not popular among the pioneers. 3. the fare for a sea journey to oregon was quite expensive--few pioneer families could afford it. i don't know the other three i'm sorry.

nativists tried to get rid of the immigrants as they thought they were going to ruin the u.s.