Everyone knows that Christopher Columbus made a big mistake in 1492. He thought his ships had reached islands near the continent of Asia. What happened when the king and queen of Spain, who paid for his voyage, later found out he had not discovered a new route to Asia? Were they angry?
No, indeed. They and the other rulers of Europe were excited about finding new places to conquer. The race was soon on to explore and claim land for various European powers. But claiming the land was only the first step. Often more than one country claimed the same territory. To hold real control, a country had to create colonies. A colony is a settlement in a new land that is ruled by a faraway country.
