Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer, navigator and colonist who completed four voyages across the Atlantic
Real World Example
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who sailed for Spain and completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to find a new route to Asia. His 1492 journey marked the beginning of sustained European exploration and colonization of the Americas, dramatically changing the world's geography and leading to the widespread exchange of goods and ideas, known as the Columbian Exchange. At the time, his voyages expanded the horizons of European nations, leading to advances in navigation technology and the eventual rise of powerful colonial empires. Today, Columbus's legacy is complex, as it includes both the positive advancements in global connectivity and the negative impacts on Indigenous peoples. His voyages still inspire exploration and curiosity, like when people today use GPS technology to explore new places, much like Columbus used maps and stars to navigate the seas.
