Edward I was born on June 17, 1239, the eldest son of King Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. His early years were marked by the turbulence of a kingdom still wrestling with the legacy of Magna Carta. Unlike his bookish father, Edward developed a love for war and governance, training as a knight and learning to lead men from a young age. These lessons in power and conflict would define his reign as one of England’s most formidable kings.

On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic on a voyage that would reshape the world. Backed by Spain, he sought a new route to Asia—but instead encountered the Americas. Discover the story behind his first transatlantic journey, the people he met, and the lasting impact of his fateful expedition.