How was Columbus mistaken about thelands he claimed for Spain?

When Columbus set out from Spain in 1492, he was searching for a western route to Asia particularly India. He believed that by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean, he could reach the East Indies, which were a source of valuable spices and other goods.

However, Columbus's calculations were wrong. He underestimated the size of the Earth, and he did not realize that the Americas lay between Europe and Asia. As a result, he landed in the Caribbean Islands, which he mistakenly believed to be part of Asia.

Columbus never realized his mistake. He died in 1506, still believing that he had reached the East Indies. It was not until later explorers, such as Amerigo Vespucci, proved that the Americas were a separate continent.