History of Western civilization Genovese born mariner, Christopher Columbus set out under the auspices of the Crown of Castile (Spain) to seek an oversea route to the East Indies via the Atlantic Ocean. Rather than Asia, Columbus landed in the Bahamas, in the Caribbean. Spanish colonization followed and Europe established Western Civilization in the Americas. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama led the first sailing expedition directly from Europe to India in 1497-1499, by the Atlantic and Indian oceans, opening up the possibility of trade with the East other than via perilous overland routes like the Silk Road. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer working
Portugal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics bronze medalist at the 2005 World Championships), who will compete for an all-time record 11th consecutive time at these Championships. Portugal at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics Portugal competed at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics from August 27 to September 4 in Daegu, South Korea. The Portuguese Athletics Federation announced a squad of 25 athletes (12 men and 13 women). Among the medal hopefuls are Nelson Évora (reigning Olympic champion in men's triple jump), Rui Silva (1500-metre bronze medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games and 2005 World Championships), Jéssica Augusto (2010 European cross-country champion and 10,000-metre bronze medalist