Regardless of whether Columbus was the true discoverer of the New World his lifetime achievements can be seen as a success. In addition to crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas several times, he gained fame, wealth, and climbed several rungs of the social ladder. His advances in science and geography are examples of his significant contributions to the world, and in terms of gain for the Spanish crown, he established a link with an otherwise unknown continent, which became a source of wealth that ultimately funded an empire. Yet, in his eyes, his life had been a failure and he died a miserable man. It is possible that the discontent Columbus felt, therefore, came from a sense of incompleteness, rooted in a goal, which he was unable to fulfil. .
In the year before Columbus's departure from Palos on the 3 August 1492 it is unclear what his objectives were. His intention to cross the Atlantic to reach Asia in order to create a new trade route between there and Europe is confirmed by several marginal notes in his books and by the preparations he made before his voyage. He employed an interpreter adept in oriental languages, he took letters on board with him specifically for the sovereign of China, and he made it known to his sponsors he was to go east by way of the west' . On the other hand no one was sent to pay the proper respects, there was no a gift of any significant value on board for the Chinese Crown , nor was the fleet armed with adequate fighting power to repel any attack . Thus they must not have been expecting to meet any resistance nor could they have been expecting to find any lands that could have been densely inhabited because they would have been overwhelmed too easily. Moreover the ships were loaded with small wares such as hawks' bells, beads, and glass' , these items, although highly desirable to the West African markets were unattractive to the developed markets of the Orient.