What is the name often attributed to the historical figure who significantly influenced world history but is often viewed negatively?

The name "Legacy of Columbus" refers to Christopher Columbus, a figure who is known for his role in the European exploration and colonization of the Americas. While he is often credited with opening up the New World to European exploration, his legacy is viewed negatively by many due to the consequences of his voyages, including the mistreatment and exploitation of Indigenous populations, the spread of diseases, and the onset of colonialism that led to significant cultural and demographic changes in the Americas.

The negative perception of Columbus is rooted in the impact his expeditions had on native populations and the subsequent establishment of European dominance in the Americas. As a historical figure, he serves as a complex symbol of exploration, discovery, and the darker aspects of European imperial expansion. This duality in his legacy underlines why Columbus is influential yet often viewed with criticism.

The other options do not capture this specific complexity in his representation and impact. Explorers of the Atlantic refers more broadly to a group without the same connotation of a single, polarizing figure. The Conquistadors specifically denotes those who followed Columbus and engaged in the conquest of larger territories with even more direct consequences for Indigenous peoples, and Founding Fathers pertains to early American leaders in the context of political independence rather than exploration