On May 30, 1498, Christopher Columbus set out on his third voyage to the New World. Accompanying him were six ships and three hundred men, including his younger brother Bartolomeo and the famous explorer Amerigo Vespucci. The voyage was largely funded by the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, who hoped that Columbus could find a western route to Asia and its lucrative markets.
Columbus followed a course similar to his first two expeditions, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean until reaching the Lesser Antilles. From there, he continued northward, making stops at several islands, including Trinidad and Tobago. On August 1, Columbus sighted the mainland of South America and became the first European to set foot on the continent. He sailed along the coast for a considerable distance, eventually reaching Venezuela and exploring the Gulf of Paria.
During this voyage, Columbus encountered several challenges, including conflicts with hostile native peoples, a shortage of supplies, and harsh weather conditions. Despite these difficulties, he managed to explore a large portion of the South American coast and gather important geographical information. He also returned to Hispaniola, where he attempted to establish a colony but faced significant difficulties.
In 1500, Columbus returned to Spain, where he faced some criticism and political opposition. However, his contributions to the discovery of the New World were significant and would shape the course of future European exploration and colonization of the Americas.