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It took enormous courage, determination and financial support to sail West into the complete unknown.  It also took more than a desire to get rich, because there were easier ways to make money.  That additional desire was a passion to spread Christianity to new civilizations.  In 1482, a determined Christian Italian explorer named [[Christopher Columbus]] sought financing to sail west in order to reach India.  He tried Portugal for raising money, but it already had its own successful explorers.  Why would Portugal need Columbus?  Portugal declined to support him, and Columbus turned to Spain, which was now Christian after having driven the Muslims out.  In 1492, Spain funded Columbus' daring proposal to sail West to reach the Orient.   

It took enormous courage, determination and financial support to sail West into the complete unknown.  It also took more than a desire to get rich, because there were easier ways to make money.  That additional desire was a passion to spread Christianity to new civilizations.  In 1482, a determined Christian Italian explorer named [[Christopher Columbus]] sought financing to sail west in order to reach India.  He tried Portugal for raising money, but it already had its own successful explorers.  Why would Portugal need Columbus?  Portugal declined to support him, and Columbus turned to Spain, which was now Christian after having driven the Muslims out.  In 1492, Spain funded Columbus' daring proposal to sail West to reach the Orient.   

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Before we describe this further, however, it is necessary to note that many have sought to deny Columbus credit for his efforts.  Some claim that around A.D. 1000, the Scandinavian [[Leif Ericson]] discovered [[Vinland]] where the present [[New England]] is, and even supposedly founded a small colony that failed.  But there is no evidence for this myth:  "People have been looking hard for hundreds of years and there is no archaeological evidence in this part — it's certainly possible, the Vikings were incredible boat handlers — '''but there is no evidence'''," observed one university history professor.<ref>http://farshores.org/a04viki.htm.  It is more plausible, but still unproven, that some Vikings once saw or landed in Newfoundland (now part of Canada north of Maine) without creating a settlement.</ref>  Moreover, if it happened, then was a complete failure.  Absolutely nothing further came of that effort.  It is probably a distortion designed to take credit away from someone whose vision and courage was inspired daily by his [[faith]] in [[Jesus Christ]]:  [[Christopher Columbus]].  You will see many such distortions in how American history is typically taught today.

Before we describe this further, however, it is necessary to note that Columbus was not the first European to visit what is now called America.  Around A.D. 1000, the Scandinavian [[Leif Ericson]] established a colony which he named [[Vinland]], probably in what is now [[Newfoundland]]. Remains of a Viking-era settlement have been discovered at l'Anse-aux-Meadows in the north-east of Newfoundland island. That effort at colonisation failed around 60 years later, however, and no long-term European settlement resulted from it.

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So back to what Columbus did achieve.  He set sail in three ships.  First sighted land in late 1492. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ship, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement “La Navidad,” meaning “The Nativity,” and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  “In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms.”

So back to what Columbus did achieve.  He set sail in three ships.  First sighted land in late 1492. On Christmas eve, December 24, 1492, one of Columbus's ship, the [[Santa Maria]], reached the island of [[Haiti]].  Columbus named the settlement “La Navidad,” meaning “The Nativity,” and dropped off 40 men with a promise to return to them the next year.  Columbus then wrote to the King and Queen of Spain the following in his Journal:  “In all the world there can be no better or gentler people.  Your Highnesses should feel great joy, because presently they will be Christians, and instructed in the good manners of your realms.”