Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer, navigator and colonist who completed four voyages across the Atlantic
Real World Example
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who completed four significant voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, paving the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions marked the beginning of the Global Age, a period of increased world exploration and interaction between Europe, Africa, and Asia from 1415 to 1795. Columbus's voyages were crucial at the time because they opened new trade routes and led to the widespread exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas, known as the Columbian Exchange. Today, his legacy is reflected in the diverse multicultural societies that exist in the Americas, influenced by the blending of indigenous, European, African, and Asian cultures. For instance, the American tradition of Thanksgiving is a result of this cultural blending, as it originated from early interactions between European settlers and Native Americans.