Christopher Columbus' 1492 exploration was financed by the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, which were located in what is now modern-day Spain.
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, was searching for a new route to Asia to establish a trade route for the Spanish monarchy. In 1492, he convinced King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Castile and Aragon to finance his expedition. The monarchs agreed to provide Columbus with three ships- the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria - and a crew of approximately 90 men.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus and his crew set sail from the port of Palos in southern Spain. After 36 days at sea, they landed on an island in the Bahamas, which Columbus believed to be part of Japan. He then explored other islands in the Caribbean, including Cuba and Hispaniola, where he established a settlement.
Although Columbus did not find a new route to Asia, his voyages opened up a new world of exploration and colonization for the Spanish. The Spanish monarchy continued to finance Columbus' other expeditions, and he made three more voyages to the Americas.