Both the Spanish and French used their newly claimed land to bring new resources and materials back to Afroeurasia and both countries were a major part of the Columbian Exchange. Spain first colonized in the Americas in 1492, the French didn't arrive until 1534. Another difference between the two was when the Spanish first colonized, they landed in the Bahamas while the French landed in Canada. The French influence on Canada still remains today, French is Canada's second official language.
