The Age of Exploration: Europe The age of exploration was filled with courageous voyagers and conquistadores from all over Europe, much like today, there was much competition for land rights. The main disputes were between Spain and Portugal. And these are the representatives from not only these two countries, but surrounding ones as well. Christopher Columbus was a sea captain from Genoa. He first tried to convince Portugal, then Spain to sponsor a voyage to Asia across the Atlantic. Columbus thought that the voyage would take two months, others said four months, but he left with enough food and supplies for