Before GPS and Google Maps, the man who changed the world of travel, without knowing it

Before all the technological advancements, like GPS, Google Maps, or even a compass, it’s difficult to imagine how people once found their way across vast, uncharted territories. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west with three ships, aiming to reach Asia by a shorter route. Miscalculating the Earth’s size and Asia’s extent, he landed in the Caribbean, believing he had reached the outskirts of Asia. Though he never grasped the true nature of his discovery, his voyage accidentally opened the Americas to European exploration, conquest, and the Columbian Exchange—forever altering global history. Born between August 25 and October 31, 1451, in Genoa (part of modern Italy), Christopher Columbus entered maritime life at a young age, gaining experience on merchant ships. In 1476, he surviv