who was christopher columbus

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from Genoa, born around 1451. He is most famous for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchy, beginning in 1492. Columbus sought a westward route to Asia but instead reached islands in the Caribbean, opening the Americas to European exploration and colonization. He made four voyages across the Atlantic, exploring parts of the Caribbean such as the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola. His expeditions had profound and lasting impacts, including the colonization of the New World and the severe consequences for the indigenous populations. Columbus died in 1506, still believing he had found a new route to Asia.