1492

The year 1492 is significant primarily because it marks Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas. Sponsored by Spain, Columbus set sail in search of a westward route to Asia but instead encountered the islands of the Caribbean. This event initiated widespread awareness of the Americas in Europe, leading to colonization and significant cultural exchanges, both positive and negative. Additionally, 1492 saw the completion of the Reconquista, with the expulsion of Muslim rulers from Spain, and the establishment of a unified Spanish kingdom under Ferdinand and Isabella, paving the way for Spain's rise as a global power.