Describe the routes taken by famous explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan.

Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan were all renowned explorers who played significant roles during the Age of Exploration. Each of them embarked on different routes, contributing to the expansion of European influence and the discovery of new lands.

Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, is widely known for his voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain with three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña. His initial goal was to find a western route to Asia, but instead, he stumbled upon the Americas. Columbus made a total of four voyages, exploring various Caribbean islands, including Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Cuba, and the coast of Central and South America.

Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, is renowned for his successful voyage to India, which opened up a direct sea route from Europe to the East. In 1497, da Gama set sail from Lisbon with four ships, aiming to reach India by circumnavigating Africa. After a challenging journey, he arrived in Calicut, India, in 1498. Da Gama's route took him along the western coast of Africa, passing by the Cape of Good Hope and crossing the Indian Ocean. This expedition established Portugal's dominance in the Indian Ocean trade and paved the way for future European colonization in Asia.

Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, is best known for leading the first circumnavigation of the globe. In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships, aiming to find a western route to the Spice Islands (present-day Indonesia). He sailed through the Atlantic Ocean, passing through the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America, which was later named after him. Magellan's expedition continued across the Pacific Ocean, reaching the Philippines in 1521. Although Magellan died during a conflict with local tribes, one of his ships, the Victoria, completed the circumnavigation in 1522, proving that the Earth was indeed round.

These explorers' routes were instrumental in expanding European knowledge of the world, establishing new trade routes, and initiating the era of European colonization. Their voyages not only brought about significant geographical discoveries but also had profound historical, cultural, and economic impacts on the regions they explored and the world as a whole.