Christopher Columbus

Biography

An Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions, sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, were the first European contact with the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Legacy

Columbus's voyages are a pivotal moment in world history, initiating the Columbian Exchange but also marking the beginning of centuries of colonization and the devastating impact on Native American populations.