Christopher Columbus presents his plans discovering a western route to the Indies to the Spanish Queen Isabella I of Castile.

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish-based voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Isabella I, also called Isabella the Catholic, was Queen of Castile and León from 1474 until her death in 1504. She was also Queen of Aragon from 1479 until her death as the wife of King Ferdinand II. Reigning together over a dynastically unified Spain, Isabella and Ferdinand are known as the Catholic Monarchs. Her reign marked the end of Reconquista and also the start of Spanish Empire and dominance of Spain over European Politics for the next century.

May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 244 days remain until the end of the year.