oct 12, 1492 - Columbus sights the Bahamas

Description:

Christopher Columbus, a talented, Italian seafarer, persuaded the Spanish monarchy to equip him with three small ships to investigate and explore the ocean west of Europe. Spain's recent unification under a single rule enabled them to crave Asian luxuries, but Portugal had already claimed much of West Africa due to the invention of the caravel (a ship that was able to travel more directly against the wind, enabling a northward return from southern Africa). Thus, Spain was forced to look west, a challenge not previously undertaken due to the lack of now prevalent Eastern technological advances. The voyage westward was also provoked by the high expense of any current trade route to Asia, partially due to Muslim middlemen that charged heavy tolls en route. All in all, this changed the course of the two worlds forever.