Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator and explorer who is best known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, which led to the discovery of the Americas. He was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, and from a young age, he showed a keen interest in navigation and seafaring.

In 1492, Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain to sponsor a voyage across the Atlantic in search of a western route to Asia. On October 12 of that year, Columbus and his crew landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador. Over the next several years, Columbus made three more voyages to the Americas, exploring the Caribbean islands, the coast of Central and South America, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite his achievements, Columbus’s legacy is marred by controversy. He has been criticized for his treatment of indigenous peoples, including his enslavement and mistreatment of the Taino people he encountered in the Caribbean. He also played a role in the introduction of European diseases, which had a devastating impact on native populations.

Columbus died in 1506, largely forgotten and in poverty. However, his voyages had a profound impact on world history, leading to the establishment of European colonies in the Americas and the eventual conquest of much of the New World. Today, Columbus is celebrated in many countries as a hero and an explorer who changed the course of history, although his legacy remains a subject of debate and controversy.