If Leif Ericsson arrived in 1000 to North America why do we give credit to Cristopher Colombus?

Answer 1

History is often wrong.

The civilisation of which Ericson was part had declined, and was on the edge of Europe in any event. Knowledge of his expedition had disappeared by the 15th century in western Europe (if anyone ever knew about it). By the time that the knowledge was regained the tradition of Columbus as the discoverer was firmly entrenched. Any serious historian acknowledges that the Vikings were the first people to reach North America from Europe.

Answer 2

Well when Leif Ericsson arrived he just settled down and lived and didn't tell anybody about it. Some say the Chinese did basically the same thing until they decided that going to these foreign places was just "a bad idea" and decided to close off the whole country as much as possible and destroyed all records of their explorations in the New World.

Christopher Columbus put America on the map for the Europeans. He made 4 trips so he definitely established that there was something there, it could be traveled to in a somewhat "reliable" manner, and there was unique stuff there. Of course timing is everything. This happened when the great European powers were really into discovering new places and exploiting them for their own might and wealth.

It's not usually who did it first it's who made a profit off it first! Who do you know better Bill Gates or Steve Jobs?

Answer 3

Leif Erikson and the vikings arrived in North America in 1000 ad but because they never made a settlement they are not credited with discovering America.
Christopher Columbus on the other hand made 4 vovages to the New World and sailed for Spain. In 1492 they had better maps and records than when Leif and the vikings came here.

Answer 4

Lief Ericsson was just one of many European discoverers and the respondent who said that it was not documented is wrong. Ericsson discovery is recorded in THE VINLAND SAGA which was written long before Columbus. St. Brendan may have also discovered America prior to Columbus. In the 1170, a Welsh prince, Madoc ab Owain Gwyndd, supposedly landed in the Panhandle of Florida and travelled North to the Chattanooga/Alabama/Georgia border only to be chased out by the Indians.

For Madoc, you can read a little book by Zella Armstrong, whom I knew, entitled WHO DISCOVERED AMERICA - THE AMAZING STORY OF MADOC. It is well documented

It is historians like Samuel Eliot Morrison who demanded that none of the other discoveries of America did what it is said they did, and attributed a chapter in one of his books to the damnation of all theories. But then Morrison had an ax to grind, he had written a book entitled ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA which is a biography of Columbus and did not want anyone to counter it.

Answer 5

The Vikings did have settlements in North America. A short lived one in Newfoundland (at L'anse Aux Meadows) and more long lived ones in Greenland from 986 to somewhere around the second half of the 15th century. They continued to have contact with Europe until near the end. There is also a high likelyhood that other Europeans like Basques were visiting the area for fishing and whaling.

Answer 6

And why are the Americas named for still another explorer, a 'Johnny come lately' named Amerigo Vespuci?

Leif's discovery was a flash in the pan. Columbus' brought europeans there to stay. Historically, to show up, or even claim a place is one thing, but to stay and grow there was something else entirely--the latter wins the prize.

Answer 7

Chris didn't set foot in North or South America. His landfall was actually what we now call the 'West Indies'.
Stone carvings have been discovered in West Virginia that have been dated between 500 and 1000 A.D. Analysis by an archaeologist (Dr. Robert Pyle) and a leading language expert (Dr. Barry Fell) indicate that they are written in Old Irish using the Ogham alphabet (early Celtic writing). It may be that both Leif and Chris were preceded by Irish monks.

Answer 8

Because he had absolutely no impact on world history by his discovery. Irish monks "discovered" north america in the 700s and fishermen were off the coast of North america 20 years before 1492 but it meant nothing

Answer 9

Leif was more just an explorer. They weren't looking to settle here or plunder anything. Just adventuring. No killing, raping, plundering. Nothing too memorable.He is one of my ancestors. Even though he doesn't get credit for it, I'd rather have him than colombus.

Answer 10

the individuals of Europe were doing various of trading with India and the encircling international places. on the time, the perfect way of vacationing between both places became to get in a deliver and sail each and every of how round Africa, it is an extremely lengthy vacation. Colombus became between the few those who concept the Earth became round (no longer flat), so he figured if he only sailed west and saved going, he ought to ultimately bypass each and every of how international huge and arrive in India from the "different area." properly he did not recognize how large the Earth extremely is, and he did not recognize that the yankee continents extremely exist. even as he landed in u.s., he said as the natives Indians, because he concept he became in India. thrilling how that stuff occurs.