Final answer:
Christopher Columbus's expedition, backed by Spanish monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand, set sail in 1492 aiming to find a new route to Asia but instead made landfall in the Bahamas. This marked the start of the Columbian Exchange and the widespread European colonization of the Americas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The journey of Christopher Columbus in 1492 was a pivotal moment in world history, marking the beginning of widespread European exploration and subsequent colonization of the Americas. Behind this expedition were Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, the Spanish monarchs who agreed to finance Columbus's voyage after he had unsuccessfully sought support from other European powers. Animated by a dual ambition to spread Christianity and to enhance Castile's wealth, Isabella promised Columbus a noble title and a share of the wealth he would find, envisioning significant gains for God and Castile.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with three ships, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. After a brief stop in the Canary Islands, he set off again on September 6. Columbus, underestimating the size of the Earth and believing he would find a new route to Asia, made landfall in what he thought were the Indies, specifically the Bahamas on October 12th. Despite his fundamental navigational error, Columbus's arrival in the Americas prompted a massive shift in global dynamics, often referred to as the 'Columbian Exchange,' which entailed the transfer of goods, people, technology, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds.
The significance of Columbus's voyages and the ensuing cultural exchanges can scarcely be overstated. He initiated not only European colonization of the Americas but also set in motion profound worldwide changes that continue to be felt to this day.