On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian navigator sailing for the Spanish Crown, landed in the Bahamas, believing he had reached the East Indies. This event initiated permanent contact between the Americas and Europe, Africa, and Asia—a process known as the 'Columbian Exchange.' It brought new foods (potatoes, corn, chocolate) to the Old World and introduced horses, cattle, and devastating diseases to the New World. While celebrated for centuries as a 'discovery,' the event led to the catastrophic collapse of indigenous populations and the rise of the transatlantic slave trade. It remains one of the most consequential events in human history, marking the beginning of the modern era and the rise of European global empires.