On this day in 1492, after weeks of sailing across the vast Atlantic, a lookout aboard the Pinta, Rodrigo de Triana, cried "Tierra! Tierra!" (Land! Land!). Columbus and his crew had finally reached the shores of the New World, landing on an island in the Bahamas they named San Salvador. This momentous event marked the beginning of European colonization of the Americas, forever altering the course of history for both the Old and New Worlds.

• A New World Unveiled: Columbus, believing he had reached the East Indies, encountered the indigenous Lucayan people. He described them as peaceful and generous, and noted their astonishment at the Europeans' arrival. This first contact, though seemingly amicable, foreshadowed the complex and often tragic relationship that would develop between Europeans and Native Americans.
• Columbian Exchange: The arrival of Columbus initiated the Columbian Exchange, a massive transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. While this exchange brought new resources and technologies to Europe, it also led to the devastation of indigenous populations through disease and displacement.
• Colonial Expansion: Columbus's 'discovery' sparked a wave of European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Spain, Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands all vied for control of these new lands, leading to centuries of conflict and the displacement and subjugation of native peoples.
• Legacy of Controversy: While Columbus was once celebrated as a hero, his legacy is now viewed with much more complexity. His voyages led to the exploitation of the Americas and its indigenous inhabitants, and his arrival ushered in an era of disease, slavery, and cultural destruction.
• Lasting Impact: Despite the controversy, Columbus's voyages remain a pivotal moment in world history. They irrevocably linked the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, leading to the development of new societies and cultures in the Americas, while also contributing to the rise of Europe as a global power.