Gold9472
06-15-2005, 06:14 PM
Who Discovered America?
Everyone recognizes that many people were in America long before Columbus. The Asiatic peoples who became Native Americans were certainly the first, tens of thousands of years ago. Also Norse expeditions to North America, starting with Bjarni Herjolfsson in 986, are well established historically. Many other pre-Columbian discoveries are not well established: claims have been made for St. Brendan, Basque fishermen, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and even Carthaginians. Some of these claims may be true; most are probably not.
In spite of this, Columbus's discovery (or re-discovery, if you prefer) is rightly regarded as the most historically important, and will continue to be. That is because, unlike the others, Columbus inaugurated permanent large-scale two-way commerce between the Old World and the New. Previous discoveries were so little known that even the best educated Europeans were unaware of the existence of America prior to Columbus. The "Admiral of the Ocean Sea," unlike any of his predecessors, changed the world.
Now think about this. We've always been told that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Even in school, our teachers would tell us that Christopher Columbus discovered America. We were also told that JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Both of which are nothing more than LIES to benefit the Government.
Now ask yourself this.... What do you think you know, and what do you think you REALLY know?
Everyone recognizes that many people were in America long before Columbus. The Asiatic peoples who became Native Americans were certainly the first, tens of thousands of years ago. Also Norse expeditions to North America, starting with Bjarni Herjolfsson in 986, are well established historically. Many other pre-Columbian discoveries are not well established: claims have been made for St. Brendan, Basque fishermen, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and even Carthaginians. Some of these claims may be true; most are probably not.
In spite of this, Columbus's discovery (or re-discovery, if you prefer) is rightly regarded as the most historically important, and will continue to be. That is because, unlike the others, Columbus inaugurated permanent large-scale two-way commerce between the Old World and the New. Previous discoveries were so little known that even the best educated Europeans were unaware of the existence of America prior to Columbus. The "Admiral of the Ocean Sea," unlike any of his predecessors, changed the world.
Now think about this. We've always been told that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Even in school, our teachers would tell us that Christopher Columbus discovered America. We were also told that JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. Both of which are nothing more than LIES to benefit the Government.
Now ask yourself this.... What do you think you know, and what do you think you REALLY know?