Why do the official history books still say that Columbus was the first European to discover the North?

Question

American continent,when it's been conclusively proven that the Vikings arrived several centuries earlier,and that they fought and traded with the native population?
The settlement where they spent a winter has been discovered on Newfoundland,and proved to be of Viking origin?

Edit for Executioner - It's debatable as to whether the "Native Americans" were indeed the original discoverers of America.It was originally assumed that the continent was first settled by the 'Clovis' migrations across what is now the Bering Strait,but which was said to be a land bridge during the iceage,into what was considered a hitherto uninhabited land.However,this was called into question by the discovery of a skull which appears to predate the Clovis by several millenia,and which when reconstructed seems to show a person related,not to the Asiatics like the Native Americans are,but rather to Australian Aborigines or possibly even Africanoid in appearance.
This race of pre-inhabitants appear to have been totally wiped out by the advancing Clovis,except in Tierra Del Fuego,where the modern inhabitants are said to contain traits from both peoples.

Answer 1

An important lesson in life is that just because something is in print does not make it true. History is mostly written by the victors to further their own purposes not to educate the world (though education CAN be a by-product if you are careful and read multiple sources)

P.S. - I've visited L'Anse Aux Meadows in Nfld (the place where the Vikings landed and made their temporary camp). There is a reconstruction of the tiny Viking village there, complete with role-playing actors to make it come alive. Its interesting and worth a visit. Newfoundland in general is interesting (both the people and the landscape) and well worth a visit.

Answer 2

It probably comes down to money, and budgets. It would cost a lot of money to re-write the text books for the students. I would say that over time, many text books will include the Viking discoveries. They just have to wait until someone says the old history books need to be replaced. And then I'll bet you that the new ones will mention the Vikings actually being first. And they will take up either one paragraph for it or one page maybe. Because it simply isn't really all that important, since they didn't stick around. The resistance to settlement was probaby too great due to the fact that the Vikings didn't have guns like the Spaniards had. And to take over a land so far away without a military advantage has been proven many times to be extremely difficult. The closer to home, the easier it is to settle and take over other people.

However, they will most likely always emphasize the discoveries of people like Columbus and his contemporaries, since they actually did something with their discoveries, whereas the Vikings sort of just went back home and didn't pursue settling the "new found lands". So, it's really partly a matter of teaching kids about events that have importance to other events before and after.

I would like to think that the Vikings had a lasting impression on the new world, but really , they didn't. My heritage is Scottish, Danish, etc....so, I'm with you on your sentiment here. But that's just the way it is.

Answer 3

He never ever set foot on the North American continent ,he got as far as Cuba and decided he`d found India.He then decided to return to Spain.
Maybe it`s just easier for Americans to believe that Columbus discovered North America since they rarely if ever get History right anyway (certainly not on film LOL).
Whatever your belief there was an earlier discovery of North America that predates The Norsemen - the people who truly discovered the continent are those referred to as "Native" American - a race of people who are not truly indigenous to the Americas.

Answer 4

Because the americans want america to be the first country discovered in the new world - NOT Canada (newfoundland).

Technically though Cuba or santa dominica or one of those islands was the first - NOT the american mainland.

History is written by the winners. The Vikings didnt write down their history - they spoke their stories. By the time their stories and legends were written down, America had already claimed the first place.

Answer 5

Because it's very hard to change history. In this case, it's correcting history, but so many people grew up believing that Columbus was the first, that they truly disbelieve even the solid archeological evidence that proves that was wrong. He was't the first, he wasn't the second - he wasn't even an also-ran. But if you've named a day after him, and treated him as some kind of hero for centuries, it's hard to turn that around.

Answer 6

Do they? Columbus was never in North America. South yes, central yes, North no. Ok the Vikings were there before, but they never spread their knowledge around. Columbus's discoveries were publicised and encouraged others to amongst other things discover North America.

Answer 7

It's easier. It's easier to say that Columbus discovered America. I'd actually be happier with people saying that Columbus discovered America, given the American education system. I know people that might not even say that, along with not knowing who the first president was, etc.

Answer 8

The books are written to accommodate those whose views are of the majority. Those who ultimately got control of the North American sphere, particularly the United States, have purposefully put forward their version of the past. What mistakes there are in this presentation, matters not. Just as long as their point-of-view is rendered as the correct format.

I want for you and your loved ones to have a prosperous, healthy, God-inspired, Happy New Year.

P E A C E !!!

Answer 9

my history book says Columbus never actually set foot on mainland America,the nearest he came was the Bahamas,probably the small island of Plana Cays. He made his crew swear on oath that,if asked,they would say they reached India. He remained convinced until his death that he'd reached Asia

but i went to a shcool in England

think it all comes down to what book you have!?

Its not just the internet that if full of misinformation.

Answer 10

I don't know man, explain the images of Maize and Aloe carved into the Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, or the tombstone of the Knights Templar member that bears the same coat of arms as the family burried in Scotland...you know what they say, history is written by the winners...