The year 1492 was named as the ‘year of discovery’ because of the great discovery that Columbus made (the united states of America) Portugal and Spain became the early first in the Age of Exploration by signing a treaty and that treaty was called the Treaty of Tordesillas, where both countries agreed to divide up the New World that was discovered by Columbus. Spain however got most of America.
Age of discovery is an era in European history from the early 15th century until the end of the 18th century.
It was an era of extensive overseas explorations, it was also the period in which Europe adopt colonialism and mercantilism as Nation policies. During this age is when Cristopher Columbus arrived in America send by the Spanish crown and began the conquest of the continent. Giving Spain a large territory and all the richest inside of it.
