when did columbus discover america

Christopher Columbus discovered America on October 12, 1492. On this day, he landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador, believing he had reached a new route to Asia. This event marked the beginning of sustained European exploration and colonization of the American continents. Columbus made this journey with three ships—the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María—setting sail from Spain in August 1492 and arriving in the Americas after about two months at sea. His landfall initiated what is known as the Age of Exploration in Europe. However, it is important to note that the Americas were already inhabited by Indigenous peoples long before Columbus's arrival.