哥伦布(1451～1506年)
Columbus, Christopher
义大利语作Cristoforo Colombo
西班牙语作Cristóbal Colón
热那亚航海家和探险家，他跨越大西洋的旅程打开了欧洲人到美洲探险、开发、殖民的道路。生於热那亚（今义大利境内），他在一艘葡萄牙商船上展开海员生涯。1492年他获得西班牙君主费迪南德五世和伊莎贝拉一世赞助，为了抵达亚洲，尝试向西航过被认定为开阔海洋的地区。在他的首次航行中，1492年8月他与三艘船－－「圣玛利亚号」、「尼娜号」、「平塔号」－－共同启航，10月12日在巴哈马群岛见到陆地。他沿着伊斯帕尼奥拉岛北岸航行，而在1493年回到西班牙。第二次航行（1493～1496）至少有十七艘船同行，而创建了新大陆第一个欧洲城镇伊莎贝拉（今多明尼加共和国境内）。这次航行也开启了西班牙进一步传播基督教福音的努力。在他的第三次航行中（1498～1500），他抵达南美洲和奥利诺科河三角洲。人们指控他管理不善，导致他被押解回西班牙。在他的第四次航行中（1502～1504），他回到南美洲，并沿着今宏都拉斯和巴拿马海岸航行。他无法达到成为贵族和赚大钱的目标。他的人格及成就长久以来备受争议，但学者通常同意他是坚毅而英明的航海家。
English version：
1451～1506年
Columbus, Christopher
SpanishCristóbal ColónGenoese navigator and explorer whose transatlantic voyages opened the way for European exploration, exploitation, and colonization of the Americas. Born in Genoa (now in Italy), he began his career as a young seaman in the Portuguese merchant marine. In 1492 he obtained the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand V and Isabella I for an attempt to reach Asia by sailing westward over what was presumed to be open sea. On his first voyage, he set sail in August 1492 with three ships—the Santa María, the Ni?a, and the Pinta—and land was sighted in the Bahamas on October 12. He sailed along the northern coast of Hispaniola and returned to Spain in 1493. He made a second voyage (1493-96) with at least 17 ships, and founded La Isabela (in modern Dominican Republic), the first European town in the New World. This voyage also began Spain's effort to promote Christian evangelization. On his third voyage (1498-1500), he reached South America and the Orinoco River delta. Allegations of his poor administration led to his being returned to Spain in chains. On his fourth voyage (1502-4), he returned to South America and sailed along the coasts of modern Honduras and Panama. He was unable to attain his goals of nobility and great wealth. His character and achievements have long been debated, but scholars generally agree that he was an intrepid and brilliant navigator.