The Iberian Peninsula was historically important during the Age of Exploration as it served as the launching point for major maritime explorations by countries like Spain and Portugal. Innovations in navigation and shipbuilding, coupled with the desire for new trade routes and access to resources, prompted voyages led by figures such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama. The peninsula's role in establishing vast colonial empires significantly altered global trade dynamics and facilitated the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas, shaping the modern world in profound ways.