Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sponsored by Spain, is known for his four voyages across the Atlantic that led to the European awareness of the American continents. In 1492, he sailed westward seeking a trade route to Asia, but instead landed in the Caribbean. His journeys opened the door for further exploration and colonization by European powers, fundamentally altering the course of world history. By connecting Europe and the Americas, Columbus's expeditions initiated the age of exploration, leading to the Columbian Exchange of goods, ideas, and populations, but also to the exploitation and significant demographic changes among indigenous peoples.