Spain began exploring and colonizing the Americas in the 15th century, toppling the Aztec and Inca empires and establishing an empire stretching from Canada to Tierra del Fuego. This led to the Columbian Exchange as Europe brought livestock and crops to the Americas in exchange for goods like tobacco and potatoes. The new global trade links and European domination marked the beginning of the imperialist era as they came to control most of the world.

1. Age of discovery: Spain

2. 15th centurySpain began to settle the Caribbean islands and conquistadors soon toppled native empires such as the Aztecs and Incas on mainland AmericaLater expeditions established an empire that stretched from present-day Canada in North America to Tierra del Fuego in South AmericaEstablished links with Africa, Asia, and the Americas in search for an alternative trade route to Asia, moved by the trade of gold, silver, and spicesFrance, England, and the Netherlands soon followed Spain’s example of exploration

3. ContactContact between the old and new worlds produced the Columbian Exchange, a transfer of unique goods from one hemisphere to anotherEuropeans brought cattle, horses, and sheep to the New World, and in return received tobacco, potatoes, and bananasThe new trans-oceanic links and their domination by the European powers led to the age of Imperialism, a time when European colonial powers came to control most of the planet

4. North American NativesThere were many conflicts between Europeans and NativesThe Europeans had many advantages over the Natives (diseases that wiped out 50-90% of their population)Europeans also came to garner gunpowder and more technologically advanced equipment and transportation