The document provides an overview of European exploration and expansion between the 15th and 18th centuries. It describes the technological and navigational advances that enabled long voyages of discovery. It profiles major explorers like da Gama, Magellan, and Columbus and their voyages that connected Europe to other continents. It also summarizes the conquest of native American empires by Spain and Portugal, and the establishment of colonies in the Americas by several European powers. The resulting exchange of goods, crops and diseases between hemispheres had massive social, economic and demographic impacts globally.