oct 12, 1492 - Christopher Columbus lands in America

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Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer born in Genoa in 1451. In 1492, after leaving Portugal, he made an agreement with the King and Queen of Spain to be sponsored for his voyages across the Atlantic. Columbus knew the world was round, and hoped to reach India, China, and the East Indies to open up a new trade route.

He landed on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas on October 12, thinking he had reached India. After returning to Spain, Columbus took three more voyages to the Caribbean, exploring the region thoroughly and beginning a new era of colonialism in the Americas. Columbus died in 1506, leaving behind an immense legacy.

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