Final answer:
Christopher Columbus aimed to reach Asia, especially the East Indies, by sailing west; however, he landed in the Americas, not realizing he had discovered new lands.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the flag of Spain, wanted to find a quicker trade route to Asia, specifically the East Indies. Despite reaching the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, Columbus believed that he had reached the outskirts of Asia. In his pursuit, financed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, he inadvertently stumbled upon the Americas, which were lands previously unknown to Europeans. Nonetheless, Columbus died holding the erroneous belief that he had landed in Asia.