Christopher Columbus Statue

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) was born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He went to sea as a young boy, and spent most of his life at sea.

Columbus knew the world was round. He believed that by sailing west, instead of current route east around the coast of Africa, he would the East and the Spice Islands.He moved to Portugal trying to get money to support his journey. He eventually got support from Ferdinand and Isabella, the king and queen of Spain.
Columbus was actually looking for America. He was looking for a shorter route to the far east. There he would find valuable silks and spices. Christopher Columbus Map carved in Wood Columbus actually landed on a small island in the Bahamas which Columbus named San Salvador.
Columbus thought he had landed on the Spice Islands near India. This is why he named the people he met Indians.
Columbus died in 1506 still believing that he had found a new route to the East Indies.