Christopher Columbus was an explorer and navigator who was a native of Genoa, Italy. He is known as ‘the man who discovered America’. He was hoping to find a new route to India when he landed in the New World in 1492. His discovery changed the course of world history.
Christopher Columbus was born Cristòffa Cónbo in Genoa, Italy in October 1451. He failed to get support from Portugal, France and England for his ‘enterprise of the Indies’. However, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to sponsor the Expedition. On August 3rd 1492 Columbus sailed from Palos de la Frontera in Southwestern Spain. Ten weeks later he landed in the Bahamas.
Columbus made three further voyages across the Atlantic. He visited several islands in the Caribbean and explored the coasts of Venezuela and Central America. He believed he had discovered a new route to India. He claimed all the newly discovered territories for Spain.
Christopher Columbus, who has been credited with opening up the Americas to European colonization, died in Valladolid, Spain in the year 1506 On This Day.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, Central Park, NYC