Christopher Columbus, born between August 26 and October 31, 1451, in Genoa, Italy, was a navigator who explored the Americas under the flag of Spain. His voyages across the Atlantic paved the way for European colonization and exploitation of the Americas. Columbus sailed in search of a route to Cathay (China) and India, to bring back gold and spices that were highly sought in Europe. His patrons, Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain, hoped that his success would bring them greater status. Columbus’s first encounter with the New World occurred on October 12, 1492, when he landed on an island he called San Salvador. After his initial landing, Columbus continued his voyage, reaching Cuba on October 28, 1492. He mistakenly believed Cuba to be part of the Asian mainland, specifically Cathay (China).

Source: Wikipedia