# Migrations to South and North America, 1400–1800 The migration to South and North America between 1400 and 1800 was a major historical process that transformed the population, economy, culture and political structure of the Americas. Before European contact, the Americas were inhabited by diverse Indigenous peoples with their own societies, economies and cultures. From the late fifteenth century, European exploration created new patterns of migration across the Atlantic. The process began with European voyages of exploration, particularly after Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean in 1492. Spain and Portugal were the earliest major powers involved in the colonisation of the Americas. Spanish settlers migrated to Central and South America, while Portuguese settlers established themselves mainly in Brazil. These migrations were encouraged by the search for land, wealth, precious metals, trade opportunities and political influence. Spanish colonisation expanded rapidly in regions such as Mexico and Peru, while Portuguese migration increased in Brazil because of its agricultural and commercial potential. European migration was accompanied by the forced migration of millions of Africans. The