The unexplored continent discovered by European explorers during the Age of Discovery was Australia. Initially inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, the continent was "discovered" in the 17th century by European navigators, particularly Dutch explorers. However, it was the British colonization in the late 18th century that marked significant changes, as they established penal colonies and expanded territorial claims. The arrival of Europeans significantly impacted the native populations and altered the ecological and cultural landscape of Australia.