Did Columbus discover America?

Question

If so, what about people who have already lived in America before Columbus? Do they need to be discovered?

I want to know the individual perspective. I don't want the history of Columbus or history of America.This is old controversial issue in America. But the question is about what do you think and why? Please feel free to express your idea. Serious thoughts only, though.

Answer 1

no, christopher columbus did not discover america. There were people already living here and if you read "They came before Columbus" by Ivan Van Sertima( i think that is his name) h provides various proofs that there were other cultures already trading with american indians long before columbus was even thought of. If you look at some of the old sculptures of south america, many of them resemble statues from Africa and when you look at the tradewind patterns you can see that depending on the season if you just got in a boat and floated you could float to these areas. The difference is that there was trade and the africans respected the native americans and vice-versa....christopher columbus came and killed many native americans in efforts to conquer the land

Answer 2

NO, Vikings came to America long before Columbus. There could have been others, the Chinese had the knowledge and ships to reach America. Columbus thought he was amongst islands off the coast of China, possible what we know as Japan. He was an excellent mariner and had plotted his voyage very well. But he kept two logs, one for the crew so they would not mutiny, and another one for himself and posterity. You might say technically he did not discover America at all, he only saw islands which are in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. These are my thoughts and the history, they are one and the same. We are speaking of the discovery of America in the second millennia. There is no concrete evidence of others arriving here before Columbus, there are Irish folk tales but nothing can be documented. The speculation that Africans came to the Americas is also without clear evidence. I think the latter is an attempt to build a history. Unfortunately African "history" was either not documented or destroyed. That being the case it is not history. Similarly the migration of Eastern Asians is not documented so we know very little about the when and how. So it also remains speculation. By definition history is "the RECORDED" events of humans.

Incidentally Columbus made three voyages to America. He HAD no contact with of the N. American Indians as he never saw them. After his last voyage he was discredited and died in poverty. He is buried in a cathedral in Seville. I have visited his grave.

Answer 3

Columbus left the Port of Palos on August 3rd, 1492, stopped in the Canary Island to refit their ships, and arrived on Watling Island in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. In the next 10 years, Columbus made 4 trips to the New World-he explored the West Indies, and even reached the coasts of Central and South America, but he never reached the North American continent. Mary Whitney, Inc.; 1988

Answer 4

Columbus bumped into America, which he believed was India, and thus began the European colonization and exploitation of the Americas. The native population has yet to recover from it all.

I believe that the Europeans were definitely not "the first" foreigners to arrive in the Americas, I believe that Africans were, based upon research and evidence found at several Olmec sites in the gulf regions of Mexico. The only difference is, the Europeans came to conquer and destroy. It's very sad.

Answer 5

North America was inhabited by people from Atlantis. A asteroid hit at the Gulf of Mexico knocking the Earth upside down and at a 23 angle causing a ice age and sinking Atlantis. People started going to Europe and Africa after that. There are even tales that some early Spaniards saw cities with electric lights when they were exploring the Americas.

Answer 6

He wasn't the first European to arrive in the "Americas" he just had better publicity. I'm sure the people already here felt no need to be discovered.
The Viking had settlements in present day Newfoundland 500 years before Columbus arrived.
Now, many archaeologist agree that people were in the Americas far longer than 12,000 years ago - Clovis man - was once the limit.

Answer 7

The Canary Islands are known if you are the sunlight center of Europe! See that sunshine with hotelbye . Canary Islands provide a moderate conditions and a range of outstanding natural attractions. Five of their seven islands have already been reported a Biosphere Reserve, and the archipelago has four national parks. Probably the most excellent attractions in Canary Islands will be the beaches since they're just perfect for soothing in sunlight or experiencing water sports such as for instance windsurfing and scuba diving. In Canary Islands you is likewise impressing by the inner attraction like: climbing, routine touring, hiking and even caving. Some of the most magnificent attractions of Canary Islands are: the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, the beaches of Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria using their sand dunes, or the natural forests of La Palma and La Gomera.

Answer 8

Ah, good question. Of course, the Vikings, and probably the Irish, Bretons and possibly Basques had already been there, along with a few Russians, and the Inuit who were nomads. Then, as you say, there were the people who already lived there.

I suppose it's a bit like asking who discovered Pluto, or a comet. It's always been there, but who lets you know about it?

I suppose "first brought it to the attention of Europe" is more accurate, but a bit unwieldy.

Answer 9

Yes,he did.It was a major breakthrough for the science of geography.The American continent was added to the maps.
There were people in the Americas before Columbus arrived,but their knowledge of geography was very limited.They probably didn't use the concept of continent.

Answer 10

Technically it was the Vikings who were the first Europeans to discover America well before Columbus.