European colonization Christopher Columbus arrived on the island on December 5, 1492, during the first of his four voyages to the Americas. He claimed the land for Spain and named it La Española, due to its diverse climate and terrain, which reminded him of the Spanish landscape.Christopher Columbus . Catholictradition.org. Retrieved on April 2, 2014. In 1496, Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher's brother, built the city of Santo Domingo, Western Europe's first permanent settlement in the "New World". The Spaniards created a plantation economy.
European colonization Christopher Columbus a,rrived on the island on December 5, 1492, during the first of his four voyages to the Americas He claimed the land for Spain and named it La Española due to its diverse climate and terrain, which reminded him of the Spanish landscape.Christopher Columbus . Ca.tholictradition.org. Retrieved on April 2, 2014. In 1496, Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher's brother, built the city of Santo Domingo Western Europe's first permanent settlement in, the "New World". The Spaniards created a plantation economy.