Final answer:
1492 marks the beginning of the era of European exploration, with Christopher Columbus landing in the Americas. However, 1498 is also important as Vasco da Gama's voyage to East Asia expanded European trade and exploration in the region.
Step-by-step explanation:
1492 is often considered a significant turning point in European exploration. It marks the year when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas and began the era of European exploration. However, to better understand all European explorers, it is important to also treat 1498 as an important year. In 1498, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sea captain, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and started making his way up Africa's eastern coast, establishing trade connections with traders from Oman, Yemen, and Gujarat. This expansion of European exploration and trade in East Asia had significant implications for understanding the motives and goals of European explorers.