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In the early 1400s, Europeans began exploring the west coast of Africa in search of an all water route to Asia. These early explorations were led by the Portuguese. In 1488, Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope （好望角） at the southern tip of Africa. In 1498, Vasco Da Gama established an all water route to India. The success of these explorations led Spain to begin its own voyages. In 1492, Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas for Spain. In 1519, supported by Spain, Ferdinand Magellan started on a voyage westward. He found a southern route around South America and came to the Pacific Ocean. Sailing west, he landed in the Philippine Islands, where he was killed in a fight with the people there. His men continued around Africa and back to Spain. These discoveries had a lasting impact on Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
European nations competed for colonies across the globe. These colonies were exploited for their raw materials, and used as new markets for European goods. Europeans had little regard （尊重） for most of the native peoples of these areas, and as a result, there was |
