The historical significance of the year 1492 lies primarily in Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas, marking a turning point in world history. This expedition, funded by Spain, led to the European discovery of the New World, dramatically altering the course of history through the subsequent age of exploration and colonization. The year also saw the completion of the Reconquista with the fall of Granada, effectively unifying Spain under Christian rule. The events of 1492 initiated profound demographic, cultural, and geopolitical changes worldwide, leading to the exchange of goods, ideas, and populations, reshaping global interactions for centuries to come.