im not sure if this was the answer you were looking for but It was a turning point because Europeans discovered land many never knew existed. This also effected the indigenous people of the discovered land. It made the western Nations the strongest ones in the world (not counting the Ming Dynasty). It also started the slight downfall of the Ottoman Empire because it couldn't colonize, and many nations that could get to the "New World" could colonize making their profit better than some who couldn't. Another reason is the new things they can trade now back to the other countries who couldn't colonize making them make the decision to either buy the goods or to colonize themselves so they can also get a piece of the new products. Lastly it also was when the slave trade began
Probably make this shorter but this is all of the reasons i can think of
