Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer born in 1451 in Genoa. He is best known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in the late 15th century. Sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, Columbus aimed to find a new route to Asia but instead landed in the Bahamas in 1492, marking the beginning of European exploration in the Americas. Columbus made a total of four voyages to the New World, exploring parts of the Caribbean and the coasts of Central America. His expeditions opened the door for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas, significantly impacting world history.