Giovanni Columbus, also known as Christopher Columbus, was an Italian explorer born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy. He is best known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean in the late 15th century, which led to the European awareness of the American continents. Columbus made four significant trips to the New World, starting in 1492, under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchy. Columbus aimed to find a westward route to Asia for trade but instead encountered the islands of the Caribbean. His expeditions opened the door for the widespread exploration and colonization of the Americas by European powers, profoundly impacting world history.