Did Christopher Columbus really think he would find the terrestrial paradise mentioned in the Bible?

Christopher Columbus is known for being the explorer who discovered the New World, but he is also associated with the idea of finding the terrestrial paradise mentioned in the Bible. The terrestrial paradise is a concept that has been present in Christian theology for centuries, and refers to the Garden of Eden, the place where Adam and Eve lived before they were expelled.

While it is possible that Columbus was influenced by the idea of finding the terrestrial paradise, there is no concrete evidence to support this theory. Columbus was a devout Christian, and his faith played a significant role in his life and his explorations. However, there is no record of him explicitly stating that he was searching for the Garden of Eden or the terrestrial paradise.

Instead, Columbus was primarily motivated by a desire to find a new trade route to Asia. He believed that by sailing west across the Atlantic, he could reach the East Indies and establish a new trade route that would bypass the overland route through the Middle East. While he did not find the East Indies, he did discover the New World, which would ultimately have a significant impact on European history and the world as a whole.

It is worth noting that the idea of finding the terrestrial paradise was not unique to Columbus. Many explorers and scholars of the time were interested in the concept, and there were various theories about its location. Some believed that it was located in the Americas, while others thought it was in Africa or Asia.