Christopher Columbus

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Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) was an Italian explorer and navigator, widely recognized as one of the most significant figures of the Age of Discovery. Born in Genoa, in the Republic of Genoa, Columbus is known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, which opened the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions, sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, marked a turning point in world history, bridging the gap between Europe and the New World. Columbus devoted much of his career to securing royal patronage for his ambitious plan to reach Asia by crossing the Atlantic. After years of rejection, he finally gained support from Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II of Spain. In 1492, he set sail with three ships — the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María — and reached the islands of the Caribbean, believing he had arrived in Asia. The impact of Columbus's voyages was monumental. His journeys initiated the Columbian Exchange, a vast transfer of crops, animals, cultures, and diseases between the Old World and the New. This exchange reshaped diets, economies, and societies on both sides of the Atlantic, though it also brought devastating consequences for indigenous populations, including disease, displacement, and conquest. Columbus remains a complex and controversial figure. To some, he symbolizes exploration, daring, and the expansion of human horizons; to others, he represents colonization, exploitation, and the suffering inflicted upon native peoples. His legacy reflects both the achievements and the darker consequences of European expansion during the 15th and 16th centuries.