Funda kabanzi ngempilo yomlingisi owathola iMelika ngo-Okthoba 12, 1492.
Kuthiwa uColumbus ubedabuka eGenoa, nokuthi waqala ebuthweni lasolwandle eneminyaka engu-14.
Ngo-1477, amandla amakhulu okuthumela eYurophu asungulwa ePortugal. Eqiniseka ukuthi umhlaba wawuyindilinga, waphakamisa uJuan II wasePortugal ukuthi athathe uhambo oluya eNtshonalanga afinyelele e-Indies, iphrojekthi engazange ithole impendulo elindelekile. Eminyakeni emithathu kamuva waya eSpain eyofuna ukusekelwa kukaFernando no-Isabel de Castilla, amaKhosi amaKatolika, aqale amncisha imali yenkampani yakhe. Ngemuva kwezingqinamba eziningi, amakhosi anquma ukumsiza, ashiya iPuerto de Palos ngo-Agasti 3, 1492.
Ngemuva kwezinyanga ezimbili zokuhamba ngomkhumbi, ngo-Okthoba 12 umlindi waseRodrigo de Triana wabona umhlaba (Isiqhingi saseGuanahani). UColumbus waphinde wahambela ama- "Indies", lapho akholelwa khona ukuthi ufikile. Ngemuva kohambo lwakhe lokugcina nangenxa yezingxabano zenkantolo, wahlala osizini oluphelele; Egula futhi ekhohliwe, uColumbus washona ngoMeyi 20, 1506, engazi ukuthi uthole izwekazi elisha.
