Why did italian explorers get funded by other countries but not italy?

Italy was not actually a unified country during that time period, it was instead comprised of many city-states (Milan, Venice etc.). Therefore Italy as a whole would not have been able to fund any of the explorers because they were not united as Italy. As well, because Italy was not unified, it was not as powerful as countries like Spain, France and England. 

It taught people how to live a good life, but not what to believe.

Where are the following ?