During his second voyage, Christopher Columbus set out from Spain in September to explore the Caribbean and find new territories and resources. On November 4, Columbus reached the Leeward Islands, an area in the northeastern Caribbean, marking an important milestone in his exploration efforts. Columbus had previously landed in the Bahamas on his first voyage in 1492, but his intentions this time were to explore further south and west. Finding the islands of Dominica first, he was struck by the lush landscapes and potential for riches indicated by the lush vegetation and the indigenous peoples he encountered. The crew interacted with the Carib tribes, which later became significant as the Spanish Empire expanded.Columbus's discovery gave rise to the European claim over vast territories in the Americas, igniting competition among European powers for colonization and wealth exploitation. The voyage also set a precedent for future exploration, one that would lead to extensive mapping of the Caribbean and Central America. This new awareness paved the way for further expeditions by other conquistadors and European nations, as they sought to expand their empires and exploit the resources of the New World. Columbus's belief that he had found a new route to India continued to influence European perceptions of the Americas for years to come.