Final answer:
Christopher Columbus discovered America in the 15th century during his first voyage in 1492, when he landed on a Bahamian island. This started the era of European exploration and colonialism in the New World.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christopher Columbus and His Discovery of America
Christopher Columbus discovered America in the 15th century. Specifically, on October 12, 1492, Columbus, an Italian explorer sponsored by the Spanish Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, landed on an island in the Bahamas, marking the first of his four voyages to the New World between 1492-1504. This event is commonly considered a significant turning point in history and symbolizes the beginning of the era of European colonialism.
Columbus initially thought he had reached the Indies and called the native people he encountered 'Indians,' a term that is now regarded as controversial. His voyages sparked a wave of European exploration and colonization, with the subsequent conquest and colonization of the Americas adding great detail to what was traditionally a simplified narrative of the 'New World.' It's important to note that the actual first contact between Europeans and Indigenous peoples in the North American continent predates Columbus by nearly five hundred years, based on archaeological and historical evidence.