can you name some of its explorers?
João Gonçalves Zarco.
Age of Discovery
The expedition leader himself, who established settlements on the island of Madeira, was Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco.
what factors contributed to the creation of the time period we call the middle ages It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. what is this last thing you mentioned? It  is an informal and loosely defined term for the period in European history in which extensive overseas exploration, led by the Portuguese, emerged as a powerful factor in European culture, most notably the European rediscovery of the Americas. was any ship used for this exploration? yes
wiki:20115861
Age of Discovery [SEP] Portuguese exploration
He invested in sponsoring voyages down the coast of Mauritania, gathering a group of merchants, shipowners and stakeholders interested in new sea lanes. Soon the Atlantic islands of Madeira (1419) and the Azores (1427) were reached. In particular, they were discovered by voyages launched by the command of Prince Henry the Navigator. The expedition leader himself, who established settlements on the island of Madeira, was Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco.