What was the reason for christopher columbuses explorations?

Answer 1

He thought the route to the East Indies would be easier and shorter when going west (he was totally wrong there) and he expected to make a killing financially by asking for a 10% cut of all the proceeds that the trade through the westerly route would bring in. He was mistaken there, too: he spent years and years in ligitation against the Spanish court, but never got his 10%.

Answer 2

because he wanted to