Ask the question, who discovered America in any sitting and you’re likely to get the same response; Christopher Columbus. Nonetheless, this has been questioned countless times. Columbus is said to have landed on the American shores in October 1492 while on his route to India. Based on history, Columbus did not land in mainland America rather in the Bahamas. Amerigo Vespucci travelling in 1497 is said to have been the man that discovered America. He was an explorer of Italian origin. It’s worth noting that even though Vespucci was the first person to step on America, he’s not the person who gave the continent its name. This was executed by Martin Waldseemuller.
After studying history books, it’s clear that it isn’t sure that Columbus and Vespucci were the individuals who discovered America. It is because the Chinese also claim to have executed the same. The Chinese say that they had landed on the Americas long before the Europeans even set foot. From this, you cannot help but keep asking who actually discovered the continent that’s America. If you keep studying history books, you will come to agree that indeed Columbus did not land in America. Many other people reached the American coast before Columbus.
People from the continent of Asia are stated to have reached America before Columbus and settled there. They are often stated to be the people who discovered America. It was in 986 AD that expeditions to America are said to have started. This was centuries before Columbus landed on the continent. The expeditions are mentioned to have been initiated by one Bjarni Herjolfsson. The rationale why he’s not credited with the discovery of America has to do with the truth that the expeditions weren’t properly documented. Had this been done, it might be right to state that there would not be a mention of Columbus.
Based on some present information, it was Zheng, a Chinese Admiral who discovered America. Nonetheless, this has been overtly refuted as none of Zheng’s voyages went past the Indian Ocean. In Icelandic tales, America was discovered by Leif Erickson a Norse explorer. While there is no documentation of this, archeologist discovered what are believed to be Viking-sort of settlements in Canada. The settlements, that are about 1000 years old, go to show that indeed Columbus was not the first person to land in America Accordingly, it might be wrong to say that he’s the person who discovered the continent.
To this point it’s still unclear as to who discovered America. Columbus can solely be credited with bringing colonialism to America. The landing of Columbia in America opened doors to other Europeans who occupied the continent and established their rule. It’s worth noting that when the European colonialists landed in America they found the Native Americans. These are thought of as the real inhabitants of America. Maybe somewhere in the vast land that’s America, is proof pointing to the person or those who discovered America. Let us hope we are able to discover it someday.
