European exploration refers to the period of time when European countries sent explorers, such as Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes, to discover new lands and establish colonies in different parts of the world.
Related terms
Colonization: The act of establishing settlements or colonies in foreign lands by a dominant power.
Conquistadors: Spanish conquerors who explored and conquered territories in the Americas during the 16th century.
Columbian Exchange: The widespread exchange of goods, ideas, diseases, plants, animals, and people between Europe and the Americas following Columbus' arrival.