Final answer:
Christopher Columbus, under Spanish patronage, discovered the New World on October 12, 1492, by landing on an island in the Bahamas and later in Hispaniola. He made a total of four voyages, mistakenly believing he had found a new route to the East Indies, unaware of the momentousness of his discovery and its lasting impact on global history.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Columbus and His Exploration
In search of a quicker route to Asia, Christopher Columbus, funded by Spain, embarked on his fateful voyage sailing west with his three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. On October 12, 1492, he reached an island in the Bahamas, marking the first encounter between Europe and the New World. Misunderstanding his landing spot, Columbus named the native inhabitants 'Indios', thinking he had arrived in the East Indies. His discovery was a pivotal moment that expanded European perspectives and launched an era of exploration and colonization.
Following his first voyage, Columbus returned to Spain and later made three additional voyages to the New World, although never realizing he had stumbled upon a continent previously unknown to Europeans. The consequences of his exploration were profound, leading to Spanish settlements in the Caribbean and altering the course of world history.
Despite Columbus's misunderstanding about his discovery, his expeditions established Spain's foothold in the Americas and opened the floodgates for further European exploration. His legacy is complex, as the impact of his voyages on indigenous populations was devastating, bringing diseases and leading to widespread exploitation and colonization. However, Columbus is often credited with opening the Western Hemisphere to European exploration and eventual colonization, fundamentally changing global dynamics for centuries to come.