There are several theories that exist as to who discovered America. The most prominent school of thought in this matter is that the explorer Christopher Columbus discovered America in the year 1492. The explorer was 
undertaking one of his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean having been funded by the Queen Isabella of Spain when he discovered the American continents. Initially there had been other people who first reached the American continents hence, the discrepancies as to who really discovered America. The difference made by Christopher unlike the other explorers is the fact that he led to the opening up of the continents. He initiated the contact between the people who were living in America and the Europeans.
Christopher Columbus personally initiated the colonization of America by the Spanish government. He had first made several attempts to establish a settlement in America in the Hispaniola Island before aiding in the colonization. With the growing need for new trade routes and colonies, the explorer was able to capture the attention of the queen about the new colony he had discovered and went on to facilitate the process of colonization. The new colony gave the Spanish government an upper hand in the trade involving spices over other countries such as the Arab countries and Italians since the trading ships could now use a shorter route.