Portugal was the first European country to launch large-scale voyages of exploration, starting in the 15th century. Under the leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portuguese explorers discovered new trade routes to Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Some of the famous explorers who contributed to Portugal's exploration efforts include Vasco da Gama, who sailed around Africa to reach India, and Ferdinand Magellan, who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
Spain followed Portugal in launching large-scale voyages of exploration. Spanish explorers, such as Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, and Francisco Pizarro, explored and conquered much of the Americas, and established Spanish colonies and trading networks in the region. These voyages of exploration by Portugal and Spain had a significant impact on world history, leading to the establishment of new trade routes, the colonization of new lands, and the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between Europe and the rest of the world.