How did the European countries respond to the importance of 1492?

Answer 1

In 1492, the year Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas, European countries began to recognize the significance of new trade routes and territories. Spain, having sponsored Columbus, quickly sought to expand its influence in the New World through colonization and exploitation of resources. Other nations, like Portugal, England, and France, soon followed suit, launching their own explorations and competing for territory and trade, which ultimately led to the Age of Exploration and intensified rivalries among European powers. This marked a pivotal shift in global trade dynamics and the beginning of widespread European colonization.