Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the 'New World' for Spain when he arrived in the Bahamas in 1492. Sponsored by the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus embarked on his voyage seeking a westward route to Asia. His expeditions ultimately led to the European awareness of the Americas, despite him believing he had reached Asia. This discovery sparked a wave of exploration and colonization by European powers, fundamentally transforming the history of both Europe and the indigenous cultures of the Americas.