Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, is often credited with opening the Americas to European colonization, but his legacy is complex and multifaceted. Born in 1451 in Genoa, he became a skilled navigator and seafarer. In 1492, under the auspices of the Spanish crown, he set sail with three ships—Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria—aiming to find a westward route to Asia. Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, marking the beginning of sustained European exploration in the New World. His voyages initiated the Columbian Exchange, a widespread transfer of plants, animals, and cultures that would reshape societies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Despite his navigational achievements, Columbus's encounters with Indigenous peoples led to significant and often tragic consequences. His arrival set off a period of colonization that would decimate native populations through violence and introduced diseases, to which Indigenous peoples had no immunity. The quest for gold and land fueled exploitation, slavery, and monumental social changes. Columbus himself struggled with governance and facing opposition from colonists, leading to his eventual downfall and return to Spain.

Columbus's legacy remains a topic of intense debate. While some celebrate him as a pioneer who connected two worlds, others view him as a symbol of colonial oppression and the consequences of imperialism. This duality raises important questions about how history is remembered and who gets to tell the narratives. Today, Columbus Day has become Indigenous Peoples' Day in many places, a reflection of a shifting understanding that honors the resilience and history of Native Americans while critically examining the impacts of exploration and colonization.