USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -On October 12, the expedition reached land, probably Watling Island in the Bahamas. Later that month, Columbus sighted Cuba, which he thought was mainland China, and in December the expedition landed on Hispaniola, which Columbus thought might be Japan.

Detailed explanation-2: -In the 15th and 16th centuries, Europeans wanted to find sea routes to the Far East. Columbus wanted to find a new route to India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands. If he could reach these lands, he would be able to bring back rich cargoes of silks and spices.

Detailed explanation-3: -However, the most popular theory is that Guanahani is the island today known as San Salvador (which was known as Watling Island until its name was officially changed to San Salvador in 1925 to recognize it as the site of Columbus’ first landing).

Detailed explanation-4: -When Christopher Columbus set out on his first voyage in 1492, he thought that he was heading for India’s spicelands, the Kerala coast. Columbus went the wrong way, but his commercial rival, the Portuguese Vasco da Gama, went the right way and found a land rich in the treasures that Europeans sought: spices.

Detailed explanation-5: -On October 12, 1492, after a two-month voyage, Christopher Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas he called San Salvador-though the people of the island called it Guanahani.