European contact

European contact may refer to:

Exploration

 * European colonization of the Americas
 * European exploration of Australia, encompasses several waves of seafarers and land explorers
 * European exploration of Africa, began with Ancient Greeks and Romans, who explored and established settlements in North Africa

Colonization

 * Colonialism, the establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory
 * Colonization of Africa
 * European colonization of the Americas, typically dated to 1492, when a Spanish expedition headed by Christopher Columbus sailed for India to open trade but inadvertently landed in the Americas