Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) – Genoa, Italy

Christopher Columbus (1451–1506), the Genoese explorer sailing under the Spanish crown, changed world history by initiating sustained European contact with the Americas. Though seeking a western route to Asia in 1492, his four transatlantic voyages accidentally opened the door to New World colonization. While celebrated for bridging two hemispheres, his legacy remains controversial due to his treatment of indigenous populations. His navigation skills and persistence revolutionized European understanding of global geography, despite dying unaware he'd discovered continents unknown to Europe. Columbus's voyages marked the beginning of centuries of cultural exchange, exploitation, and transformation that shaped the modern world.