Who enabled explorers to discover new lands and established routes for future explorations?

It is not a "who" but a what. The "what" is technology that made it possible to build ships with moveable sails, have a rudder, and better navigation equipment/maps. There was also the need to find water routes to Asia and the fact they wanted to get rich. Combined things got moving.


"Who" enabled explorers to discover new lands would be those who provided the finances for the trips, such as King Ferdinand V and Queen Isabella I of Spain financing the voyage of Christopher Columbus.