Exploration of the Americas

The exploration of the Americas was a big and important time in history when people from Europe traveled across the oceans to find new lands. These journeys began many years ago and changed the world forever. Many brave explorers set out on ships to discover what lay beyond the known world.

One of the most famous explorers was Christopher Columbus, whose voyages helped start this era of discovery. People from many European countries, like Spain and Portugal, were eager to find new routes and lands. They wanted new goods, like spices, and new places to live and trade.

The exploration of North America included many important moments, such as the Age of Discovery § Exploring North America and the Timeline of the European colonization of North America. These events led to the Colonial history of the United States, shaping the future of the continent.

In South America, explorers also made many discoveries. The Age of Discovery#Inland Spanish expeditions (1519–1532) helped map out this part of the world. All of these journeys are part of the bigger story of the European colonization of the Americas, which had lasting effects on the whole world.