Christopher Columbus was sponsored by Spain to find a quick trade route to Asia but landed in the Americas instead in 1492, claiming the land for Spain. Spain then explored, conquered, and settled parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Portugal claimed land in South America along the Atlantic coast up to the Andes Mountains, including most of the Amazon River region which is now Brazil. Both countries spread their culture, religion, and languages across Latin America, developing colonies similar to those in Europe and forcing the native people to convert to Catholicism.