Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus, an Italian-born navigator who sailed in the service of Spain, is commonly described as the "discoverer" of the New World--America. Although Columbus was in search of a westward route to Asia by sea, the "discoveries" he did make were more important and valuable than the route he failed to find. It is certain, however, that Columbus was not the first European to cross the Atlantic. Documentary evidence supports claims that the Vikings reached the New World about AD 1000. And there is good circumstantial evidence, though no documentation, to suggest that bot