European Exploration started with the Spice Islands. Two explorers named Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus wanted to find the Spice Islands. Marco Polo sailed with his dad and uncle, Maffeo and Niccolo Polo, and they explored Asia and China. Christopher Columbus thought he was in the Bahamas, but he was actually in North America. He claimed the land for Spain because he had to so Spain would sponsor his journey. Christopher Columbus ended up finding Native people in Europe. Marco Polo wrote a book about his discoveries and published it.  Christopher Columbus has his own day when he is celebrated for his discoveries. There were a lot of other explorers like Vasco da Gama who explored other parts of different lands and claimed them. European Exploration was a great time for Europe. They claimed land, traded goods, and discovered Indians!!!