b1215thand16th


 * COLUMBUS**

Christopher Columbus, a Genoese navigator, opened the eyes of the Europeans to the "new world." Although Columbus was not the first person to reach the Americas, he started Spanish colonization. This colonization would eventually lead to the colonization of Europe. His Voyage to the Americas ended in 1492 when he landed. Columbus also figured that a route from Iberia to the Indies would take would take much less time and be less tiring than going across Arabia. However, Columbus did not account for the world being so big and as a result his decisions were deeply affected. Columbus's underestimation led them to San Salvador. Christopher thought this North American island was an Asian island and therefore called it the Indios.

McKay, John P. __History of Western society__. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.