
Christopher Columbus: The Explorer Who Changed the World When we hear the name Christopher Columbus, we often think of brave voyages, new worlds, and the Age of Exploration. Columbus is a figure who changed the course of history, though his legacy today is seen in much more complex ways. His journeys opened up connections between Europe and the Americas, but they also brought consequences that are still discussed centuries later. Early Life and Dreams of Discovery Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy in 1451. From a young age, he was fascinated by the sea. He worked on merchant ships and dreamed of finding new trade routes. In those days, Europeans traded heavily with Asia for valuable goods like spices and silk, but reaching Asia involved long and dangerous journeys over land or around the tip of Africa. Columbus had a bold idea: what if he could reach Asia by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean? The Voyage That Changed History It took Columbus ma...