In the 1400s and 1500s, new sea routes, better ships, and technological advances in navigation made long-distance travel possible. European nations began sending explorers across the Atlantic Ocean. Spain, France, and England were among the countries competing to find new lands, trade opportunities, and advantages for their kings and queens.
Spanish explorers were among the first to cross the Atlantic. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west hoping to find a direct sea route to Asia. Instead, he reached islands in the Caribbean. Other Spanish expeditions followed, including voyages led by Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro. These explorers led conquests through the Americas, searching for riches. Along the way, they took large amounts of gold and silver and claimed land for Spain.
The Spanish also brought soldiers and priests with them. In places like present-day New Mexico, Texas, and California, they set up missions where they introduced Christianity and European ways of life. These missions helped Spain maintain a strong presence in the regions it explored. By the close of the Age of Exploration, Spain controlled territory stretching from what is now the southwestern United States to the southern tip of South America.
France also sent explorers west in search of trade and sea routes. Jacques Cartier claimed land in northern North America for France in 1534. Later, Samuel de Champlain founded a settlement in Quebec in 1608. French explorers traveled along rivers and lakes, making maps and building relationships with Indigenous communities. Rather than looking for gold, they often traded with Indigenous groups for furs, which were highly valuable in Europe.
In addition to seeking wealth through trade, the French sent Catholic missionaries with their explorers. These priests and religious workers traveled to teach Christianity to Indigenous peoples and spread their faith. The French government supported these missions because they helped build alliances with Native groups and strengthened France’s claim to the land. Although only some people converted, these missions helped France maintain a presence in North America for many years.
England began exploring the coast of North America in the late 1400s. In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian explorer sailing for England, reached the area around Newfoundland. He hoped to find a new trade route to Asia. Later English explorers continued to map the coastline and claim land. Settlers who followed developed industries such as fishing and farming, and grew valuable crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo that were sent back to Europe.
Some groups of settlers, including the Pilgrims, came to North America seeking religious freedom. They wanted to escape strict religious rules in England and have the chance to practice their faith in their own way. These religious communities established colonies where they could worship freely.
Exploration opened the way for European colonization and led to the exchange of cultures, ideas, plants, animals, and people across continents. This exchange brought new opportunities, such as trade and the sharing of knowledge, but it also brought challenges, including conflicts and injustices. The effects of these changes shaped the history of many regions and continue to influence the world today.