Who as the Italian explorer who sailed across the Atlantic ocean in 1492, hoping to find a route to India (in order to trade for spices) ?

The first answer is right. In 1492, Christopher Columbus wanted to find a quicker route to Asia so, he thought to go west instead. At that time, people thought the world was flat and if you sailed to far you would either fall off the earth or just end up on the opposite side of the world. Christopher Columbus thought that moving west would make him end up on the opposite side of the world which was closer to Asia. He didn't arrive in Asia but, in the West Indies. Also, here is a trick to learn how to remember it. There is a rhyme that goes like this: "Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, In 1492."