Christopher Columbus is the notable figure remembered for his explorations of the New World. In 1492, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, seeking a new route to Asia and inadvertently discovering the Americas. His expeditions paved the way for further exploration and colonization by European powers. Columbus’s legacy is complex; while he is celebrated as a daring navigator, his interactions with native populations also led to significant consequences, including exploitation and disease. Thus, Columbus remains a controversial figure, symbolizing both discovery and the darker sides of colonial expansion.