Final answer:
Option (c), Portugal and Spain were the first European countries with major accomplishments in the Age of Exploration, leading in technological advancements, exploration, and colonization during the era from roughly 1450-1750.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Beginnings of the Age of Discovery
The first European countries with major accomplishments in the Age of Exploration were Portugal and Spain. These countries led the way during the era from roughly 1450-1750, achieving significant advancements in navigation and exploration, as well as colonization.
Portugal, under the guidance of Prince Henry the Navigator, was a pioneer in adopting new navigational technologies like the compass, astrolabe, and caravel. These advancements allowed Portugal to establish trading posts along the coast of Africa and in India. Spain, spurred on by Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage, explored vast new lands and established its own overseas empire. To manage competition between the two nations, the Treaty of Tordesillas and the Treaty of Zaragosa were signed, dividing the world into two zones of influence.
Though other European nations such as England and France would become important players in global exploration, they trailed behind Portugal and Spain during the initial period of the Age of Discovery. Both England and France were busy consolidating power at home and dealing with internal conflicts such as the Protestant Reformation before they could turn their full attention to overseas expansion.