Before Columbus: There is evidence that Scandinavians led by Leif Eriksson reached North America (specifically Newfoundland) around 1000 AD. 1492: Christopher Columbus, financed by Spain, discovers the New World, hoping to find a sea route to Asia. Instead, he arrived in the Caribbean islands. 1500-1700: Europeans actively explored and colonized the Americas. The Spanish in America explored and conquered large areas of Latin America. The English, French, Dutch and others began to settle in No...