The Truth About Christopher Columbus Expedition of 1492

Did people grow up believing that famous explorer Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 to prove that the Earth was, in fact, round rather than flat? Yes. Should they go on believing that piece of historical fiction? Probably not. Because when Columbus set sail on his famous voyage, he knew the world was not flat.

According to history, long before 1492, scholars could see that the twilight glow formed an arc over the horizon. So what motivated Columbus’s trip? The simple answer is profit. He wanted to find a direct route from Europe to India, China, Japan, and other lucrative parts of Asia.