Final answer:
Christopher Columbus embarked on his 1492 voyage to find a new oceanic route to India to bypass the existing trade routes to Eastern spices and goods that were controlled by the Ottomans and Italians. Sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, he accidentally discovered the Americas, which led to European settlement in these new lands.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492, he was seeking a new oceanic route to India. Columbus wanted to access the spices and goods of the East without having to pass through the trading routes controlled by the Ottomans, Venetians, and Genoese. The Spanish monarchy, represented by Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, sponsored his venture. Columbus attempted to persuade the rulers with religious and economic incentives - Isabella was primarily motivated by the possibility of spreading Christianity, while Ferdinand was drawn by the potential for wealth through trade.
Columbus held inaccurate understanding of the Earth's size and did not know of the existence of the Americas. Hence, when he stumbled upon the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, he supposed he had reached part of Southeast Asia, known as the Indies. This misunderstanding led to new land discovery and subsequent settlement in the New World by the Europeans, encouraged initially by Columbus's explorations and the reports of his voyages spreading across Europe.
Learn more about Christopher Columbus' voyage