Columbus had sought an audience from the monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, who had united many kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula by marrying, and were ruling together. On 1 May 1486, permission having been granted, Columbus presented his plans to Queen Isabella, who, in turn, referred it to a committee. After the passing of much time, the savants of Spain, like their counterparts in Portugal, replied that Columbus had grossly underestimated the distance to Asia. They pronounced the idea impractical and advised their Royal Highnesses to pass on the proposed venture. However the queen grants Cristopher Columbus the chance to discover America 6 years earlier that would set in motion things happening faster assuming most action would remain the same.