Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He is best known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, which were sponsored by the Spanish monarchy. Columbus aimed to find a new route to Asia for trade but instead encountered the Americas in 1492. Columbus made four significant voyages to the New World, landing in places such as the Bahamas and Hispaniola. His expeditions opened the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas, marking a pivotal moment in world history.