Cristophe Colomb, known as Christopher Columbus in English, was an Italian explorer born in 1451. He is famous for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a westward route to Asia. Instead, he reached the Bahamas in 1492, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Colomb made a total of four voyages to the New World, exploring parts of the Caribbean and the coasts of Central America. His expeditions were sponsored by the Spanish monarchy, specifically King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Despite his significant impact on history, Colomb never realized he had discovered a new continent.