Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain in 1492 seeking a route to Asia to trade goods like gold, spices, and cloth. He made landfall in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492, believing he had reached Asia but had actually discovered the Americas. Upon his return to Spain, Columbus faced criticism for not finding Asia and was jailed, though he continued to believe he had reached Asia until his death. His voyages opened the door for continued exploration and colonization of the Americas by Europeans in subsequent decades and centuries.