Who discovered America?

Answer 1

They say Christopher Columbus discovered America but Native Americans were here first.

Answer 2

That's a tough question. You could say that the Native Americans discovered America, and they it is thought that they migrated here from Asia. There are also some theories out there that say the Chinese discovered America way before the Vikings or Christopher Columbus. So if I had to make a list I would say:

1. Native Americans
2. Chinese
3. Vikings
4. Christopher Columbus

Answer 3

1421: The Year a Chinese Muslim Discovered America

A map due to be unveiled in Beijing and London next week may lend weight to a theory a Chinese admiral discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

The map, which shows North and South America, apparently states that it is a 1763 copy of another map made in 1418.

If true, it could imply Chinese mariners discovered and mapped America decades before Columbus' 1492 arrival.

The map, which is being dated to check it was made in 1763, faces a lot of scepticism from experts.

Chinese characters written beside the map say it was drawn by Mo Yi Tong and copied from a map made in the 16th year of the Emperor Yongle, or 1418.

It clearly shows Africa and Australia.

The British Isles, however, are not marked.

Controversial claim

The map was bought for about $500 from a Shanghai dealer in 2001 by a Chinese lawyer and collector, Liu Gang.

According to the Economist magazine, Mr Liu only became aware of the map's potential significance after he read a book by British author Gavin Menzies.

The book, 1421: The Year China discovered the World, made the controversial claim that a Chinese admiral and eunuch, Zheng He, sailed around the world and discovered America on the way.

Zheng He, a Muslim mariner and explorer, is widely thought to have sailed around South East Asia and India, but the claim he visited America is hotly disputed.

The map is now being tested to check the age of its paper and ink, with the results due to be known in February.

Even if it does prove to have been drawn in 1763, sceptics will point out that we still only have the mapmaker's word that he copied if from a 1418 map, rather than from a more recent one.

Answer 4

Officially, it was Christopher Columbus.

The 1421 theory has more holes than a block of swiss cheese, and has never shown an iota of proof. I don't think that it ever will, either.

The Vikings theory has about the same amount of evidence, but is a little more credible.

Still, as far as we know for absolute certain, Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492.

Answer 5

The Tribes that crossed the land bridge in Siberia (or possibly used canoes as well)

The Vikings also discovered america.

The Expeditions led by Columbus were the first to report back that they found stuff. But he thought it was India.

Amerigo Vespucci was the first to call it a continent (ergo, America).

Answer 6

That depends on your definition of "discovered." Nobody knows who the first people to arrive in America were. There is evidence of humans in America way back in B.C. times. People like to discredit Colombus by saying the Vikings discovered America first, but there were people there when the vikings arrived. The way I see it is, "Who cares?"

Answer 7

I think the most of us have learned in school that Columbus discovered America first. Thats what the books teach us.
Have you known that all the books are wrong? :shock:
Columbus was definetly _not_ the first one from the "old world" in America!
Around 500 years before him somebody named Leif Eriksson discovered America and called it "Vinland".
Vinland because of so much Wine he found there, Vin is the scandinavic name for Wine.
Leif Eriksson was a Viking from Scandinavia, born in Island or Norway (nobody knows it exactly).
And Leif Eriksson changed his pagan religion to christianity before this journey too!
If you are interested in this part of history you can visit this site:
http://historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwleif.htm

There is even a "Leif Eriksson Day" in America, it is on 9th October!

Answer 8

According to legend, Madoc, a Welsh prince, discovered America about three hundred years prior to Christopher Columbus' voyage.

Answer 9

It was Bjarni Herjulfsson who sited North America in 986 when his ship was blown far off course while attempting to return to Greenland from Iceland. He did not land, however. His accounts inspired Leif's expedition, presently believed to have taken place no earlier than 1000.

Answer 10

Leif Ericson