What was Christopher Columbus attempting to do when he discovered the islands off the coast of North and South America?
1 answer
When Christopher Columbus discovered the islands off the coast of North and South America, he was actually trying to find a direct sea route from Europe to Asia. He wanted to reach the lucrative markets of the Indies (modern-day East Asia) by sailing westward. Columbus believed that by traveling west across the Atlantic Ocean, he could reach Asia quicker than by the traditional land route, which was long and perilous. However, he unintentionally stumbled upon the Americas instead and believed he had reached the Indies.