Final answer:
Spain and Portugal grew powerful as a result of the Reconquista, with Spain consolidating its monarchy and expelling Jews and Muslims in 1492 and Portugal leading early Atlantic exploration under Prince Henry the Navigator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two countries that grew powerful as a result of the Reconquista were Spain and Portugal. These nations became dominant forces during the Age of Discovery, following the Reconquista's conclusion.
The Reconquista itself refers to a period during which Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula fought to recapture land from the Muslim Moors who had controlled parts of it for centuries.
Following the Reconquista, Spain, under the united rule of Ferdinand and Isabella, embarked on a 'golden age' with increased commerce, the rise of guilds, construction of great cathedrals, and a stronger monarchy.
In 1492, precisely the year when the Reconquista culminated with the fall of Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella also decreed the expulsion of Jews and Muslims who refused to convert to Christianity.
Meanwhile, Portugal, having completed its Reconquista efforts earlier, had already turned its attention to maritime exploration. Under Prince Henry the Navigator, Portugal launched expeditions that led to the discovery of new trade routes and lands, including the coast of West Africa and parts of India. Portugal also claimed Ceuta in North Africa, expanding its control over the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
Both Spain and Portugal set foundational steps for Atlantic exploration and colonization. Portugal spearheaded the era of Atlantic exploration, and Spain soon followed with extensive voyages, including those of Christopher Columbus.
As a result, Spain and Portugal established the first colonies in the Americas, with Portugal focusing on Brazil and Spain on other parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
The later Treaties of Tordesillas and Zaragoza divided the globe between these two nations, exemplifying their power and influence during this time.