The end of the Age of Exploration is often marked by the early 17th century when European powers began to consolidate their colonial territories and focus on exploration rather than discovery. Notable events signaling this transition include the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) and the establishment of well-defined colonial empires by Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands. As these nations established trade routes and settlements, they shifted their focus from exploration to colonization and exploitation of resources. The complicated geopolitical and economic relations that emerged during this time laid the groundwork for later conflicts and global trade systems, fundamentally reshaping the world.