24/03/2026
🌍 Christopher Columbus’ Arrival (1492) — Detailed Explanation
In 1492, the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus set out on a historic voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. His journey was sponsored by the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. Columbus aimed to find a new westward sea route to Asia, especially to reach the wealthy lands of India and China for trade.
🚢 The Voyage
Columbus began his journey on August 3, 1492, from Palos de la Frontera, Spain. He commanded three ships:
Santa Maria (the flagship)
Pinta
Nina
The journey was long and uncertain. Sailors feared they might never find land, but Columbus remained determined.
🏝️ Landfall in the New World
On October 12, 1492, Columbus and his crew reached an island in the Caribbean, known today as San Salvador Island in the Bahamas.
Columbus believed he had reached Asia, so he called the local people “Indians.” However, he had actually arrived in a previously unknown continent to Europeans—the Americas.