While the whole world sailed east on the path to find China, Colmbus believed it could be reached in two weeks...by sailing west! Finally, after securing the support of Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus set sail. After three weeks of sailing and no sight of land, his crew threatened mutiny. At the moment when all seemed lost and Columbus considered turning back, land was discovered. Columbus realized his dream and America was discovered.

The true story of Christopher Columbus was not only one of victorious discovery, it was marked by disaster, accusation, and betrayal. Ten short years after his discovery of the New World, Columbus languished in a Caribbean prison. There, awaiting the gallows, he plotted what he called his 'most treacherous' voyage - one that ended with the loss of all four of his ships and left Columbus and his crew shipwrecked with little hope of survival.

Columbus's brave struggle to test his belief that China could be reached by sailing west results in Europe's discovery of the new world.

"In 1494, Christopher Columbus made a second journey to the Americas--this time with more ships, more men, and a grander mission. His goal: to build the first European colony in the New World. But in just a few short years, this settlement would perish--one-fifth of its inhabitants dead, at least six ships sunk in the bay, and the legacy of Columbus permanently marred. What hapened at his ill-fated settlement remains a mystery 500 years later. National...