Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.¹⁾

His full name was Cristoforo Colombo in Italian and Cristóbal Colón in Spanish.²⁾

Columbus was the son of a wool merchant, and his family was not particularly wealthy.³⁾

As a young man, Columbus worked as a mapmaker and sailor.⁴⁾

Columbus believed the Earth was smaller than most of his contemporaries did, and he thought he could reach Asia by sailing westward.⁵⁾

He sought support for his voyage from various European monarchs, including King John II of Portugal and Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain.⁶⁾

After years of lobbying, Columbus finally received funding from Queen Isabella of Castile, which led to his first voyage.⁷⁾

On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with three ships: the Santa María, the Pinta, and the Niña.⁸⁾

He reached the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, believing he had arrived in the East Indies.⁹⁾

Columbus's voyages to the Americas marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Western Hemisphere.¹⁰⁾

He made a total of four voyages to the Americas between 1492 and 1504.¹¹⁾

Columbus's voyages were significant because they opened up a new world to European exploration and colonization, leading to the Columbian Exchange of plants, animals, and culture between the Old World and the New World.¹²⁾

Columbus is often credited with discovering America, but he actually arrived in the Caribbean islands, specifically the Bahamas, on his first voyage.¹³⁾

His voyages had a profound impact on the indigenous peoples of the Americas, leading to significant changes in their cultures, populations, and societies.¹⁴⁾

Columbus is often criticized for his treatment of the indigenous people he encountered, including forced labor and enslavement.¹⁵⁾