How did prince Henry the navigator help Portugal become the exploration leaders?

Prince Henry the Navigator played a crucial role in establishing Portugal as a leader in exploration during the 15th century by sponsoring voyages along the West African coast. He founded a navigation school in Sagres, where he gathered the best cartographers, navigators, and shipbuilders, advancing maritime knowledge and technology. His efforts led to significant discoveries, including the Azores and Madeira Islands, and paved the way for future explorations that eventually reached India and the Americas. This focus on exploration and maritime trade helped Portugal establish a vast empire and become a dominant maritime power.