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Christopher Columbus summary

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Learn about the early career and voyages of Christopher Columbus

Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Below is the article summary. For the full article, see Christopher Columbus.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus Timeline
Christopher Columbus | Timeline
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus’s Achievements
Christopher Columbus | Achievements
American colonies
Western colonialism Summary
Western colonialism, a political-economic phenomenon whereby various European nations explored, conquered, settled, and exploited large areas of the world. The age of modern colonialism began about 1500, following the European discoveries of a sea route around Africa’s southern coast (1488) and of