The era of western colonialism initiated with the discovery of the American continent by the expedition led by the Genovese navigator Cristopher Columbus in 1492.
After a series of failed attempts to get funding from diverse monarchies, he ultimately received the aid from the Crown of Castille (Spain). He left Spain with 3 ships on August 1492 and arrived in an island int he Bahamas in October 1492. He would then make 3 additional voyages to the newly found continent.