1. Spain: Spain was one of the earliest and most successful explorers, thanks to the sponsorship of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Spanish explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Ferdinand Magellan, and Juan Ponce de León discovered the Americas, circumnavigated the globe, and established colonies in the New World.
2. Portugal: Portugal was another major player in the Age of Exploration, driven by the desire to find a direct sea route to India and the East Indies. Portuguese explorers such as Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, and Pedro Álvares Cabral reached Africa, India, and Brazil.
3. France: France also had a significant role in exploration, particularly in North America. French explorers such as Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, and René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle explored the St. Lawrence River, founded Quebec, and claimed much of the interior of North America for France.
4. England: England emerged as a major maritime power during the later stages of the Age of Exploration. English explorers such as John Cabot, Francis Drake, and Walter Raleigh explored the Americas, circumnavigated the globe, and established colonies in North America.