Christopher Columbus, a navigator from Genoa, Italy, dreamt of reaching China for its riches and potential Christian converts. Despite common myths, Columbus wasn’t the first European to discover America nor the only one who knew the world was round. His unique calculations led him to believe Asia was closer than most thought. After being rejected by Portugal, France, and England, Spain funded his voyage. In 1492, Columbus landed in the Bahamas, thinking he had reached Asia.