Who Discovered America

Ask the question, who discovered America in any sitting and you are likely to get the same reply; Christopher Columbus. However, this has been questioned countless times. Columbus is claimed to have landed on the American shores in October 1492 while on his trip to India. Based on historical past, Columbus did not land in mainland America rather in the Bahamas. Amerigo Vespucci travelling in 1497 is claimed to have been the man that discovered America. He was an explorer of Italian origin. It's worth noting that even though Vespucci was the primary individual to step on America, he is not the one that gave the continent its name. This was done by Martin Waldseemuller.

After studying history books, it is clear that it's not certain that Columbus and Vespucci were the individuals who discovered America. This is because the Chinese also declare to have done the same. The Chinese say that that they had landed on the Americas long before the Europeans even set foot. From this, you cannot help however keep asking who really discovered the continent that is America. If you keep studying history books, you'll come to agree that indeed Columbus did not land in America. Many different individuals reached the American coast earlier than Columbus.

People from the continent of Asia are mentioned to have reached America earlier than Columbus and settled there. They are often mentioned to be the people who discovered America. It was in 986 AD that expeditions to America are supposed to have started. This was centuries earlier than Columbus landed on the continent. The expeditions are mentioned to have been initiated by one Bjarni Herjolfsson. The explanation why he is not credited with the discovery of America has to do with the truth that the expeditions weren't properly documented. Had this been accomplished, it could be right to state that there would not be a mention of Columbus.

In keeping with some present data, it was Zheng, a Chinese Admiral who discovered America. However, this has been overtly refuted as none of Zheng's voyages went past the Indian Ocean. In Icelandic tales, America was discovered by Leif Erickson a Norse explorer. While there is no documentation of this, archeologist discovered what are believed to be Viking-type settlements in Canada. The settlements, which are about one thousand years old, go to indicate that indeed Columbus was not the primary individual to land in America Accordingly, it could be incorrect to say that he is the person who discovered the continent.

To date it is still unclear as to who discovered America. Columbus can solely be credited with bringing colonialism to America. The landing of Columbia in America opened doorways to different Europeans who occupied the continent and established their rule. It's worth noting that when the European colonialists landed in America they discovered the Native Americans. These are considered the original inhabitants of America. Perhaps somewhere within the vast land that is America, is evidence pointing to the individual or those who discovered America. Let us hope we can find it someday.

By: max writer

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