Although Christopher Columbus was not the first one who "discover" the new continent, he was the first "explorer" to reach Central America. He made four voyages to the "New World" since this new continent was unknown in Europe. The four voyages of Columbus were between 1492 and 1502. By discovering the "New World", as it was called by the Spanish by the end of the 15th century, a period of exploration, conquest, and colonization began to develop.