Columbus made the greatest geographical discovery of all time, although in doing so he proceeded from erroneous ideas and stubbornly adhered to his delusions. Therefore, he doubted the significance of his discoveries. But that misconception has paid off. Hernan Cortes - the successor to the Columbus affair - is known as the conqueror of Mexico and the governor of New Spain. They created the modern Western world, and laid the foundations of Atlantic civilization, the fate of which is closely connected with the fate of civilization around the world.