Columbus Day

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There are many misconceptions that surround Christopher Columbus and his voyages. Even today, historians argue over Columbus’ personal history, his exact route across the Atlantic Ocean, and the places where he made landfall. However, historians do agree on Columbus’ pivotal role in connecting the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) and the New World (the Americas and the surrounding islands). Columbus is known and celebrated for finding a route that connected two parts of the globe that knew little about each other. The new route is also infamous for being a path that many explorers followed and the devastating impact on the millions of people already living in the Americas, as well as the expansion of the slave trade.