Christopher Columbus was in search of a westward sea route to Asia when he inadvertently discovered the Americas in 1492. Motivated by the desire to find a quicker way to access valuable spices and trade goods from the East Indies, Columbus proposed a plan to sail west across the Atlantic Ocean. Funded by Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, he embarked on his first voyage with three ships. Instead of reaching Asia, Columbus landed in the Bahamas, mistaking the islands for part of the Asian continent. His voyages subsequently opened up the Americas to European exploration and colonization, drastically altering global trade and history.