which major european powers were in most competition during the age of exploration, & what actions did they take during this time?

Explanation:Historians generally recognize the three motives for European exploration and colonization  in the New world called god,gold and glory.

But religious motivations can be traced all the way back to Crusades,which is the series of religious wars between the 11th and 15th centuries during the time the the European Christians thought to claim Jerusalem as an exclusive christian area.

Europeans also looked for optional trade routes to Lucrative Asian markets and hoped to gain global recognition for their country.

escalation means to increase in intensity, extent, or amount.