Columbus Departs Palos de la Frontera

Under commission from the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Christopher Columbus departs Palos de la Frontera, Spain, with three ships — Niña, Pinta, and Santa María — and approximately 90 men. Columbus believes he can reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic. His mission is to find a sea route to the spice islands, establish trade, and spread Christianity. The voyage is financed primarily by the Spanish crown after Portugal rejected the proposal.