Christopher Columbus is the famous explorer known for his voyages to the New World in the late 1400s. Sponsored by Spain, he embarked on four transatlantic journeys between 1492 and 1504, aiming to find a westward route to Asia. Instead, he encountered the islands of the Bahamas, parts of Central America, and the Greater Antilles, initiating a significant era of exploration and colonization. Columbus's expeditions opened the Americas to European exploration and exploitation, which profoundly impacted indigenous populations and led to lasting historical changes across Europe and the Americas.