Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492. Sponsored by the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus set sail with three ships—Niña, Pinta, and Santa María—in search of a westward route to Asia. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, marking the beginning of sustained European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Although Columbus was not the first to reach the Americas (as Indigenous peoples had inhabited the continent for millennia), his voyages opened the doors for further exploration, ultimately leading to significant historical changes, including the exchange of goods, cultures, and the impact on Native populations.