1) This document discusses the social, political, economic, and religious transformations in Europe from the Renaissance to the 16th century that set the stage for European colonization of the Americas. 2) It describes advances in technology, navigation, and the growth of powerful nation-states that enabled trans-oceanic voyages of exploration and conquest. 3) The document summarizes the initial colonization of the Americas by Spain and Portugal through figures like Columbus and Cortes, as well as the devastating impacts on indigenous populations and the Columbian Exchange that resulted.