After reclaiming much the iberian peninsula, Portugal and spain led the way in expanding further contact from within the early zons of Afro-Eurasia Between the two, spain's territory is larger compared to the portuguese. Spain's influence managed to reach northern part of Africa , Europe while the portuguese mainly focus on the southern part of Asia
He initiated the moon landing project which did stimulate not only the economy but innovation and commercial applications for discoveries and consequently the economy. His election as a Catholic was an historic glass breaker. The Cuban missile crisis showed the U S would not be intimidated.