Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America? Options

[panaginip13]

Okay, so I searched for a topic on this, and couldn't find one so I decided to make one. If there is a topic on this, feel free to close this and smack me upside the head for my inability to find things.

Columbus is often known as the discoverer of America. He came across America during his exploration and shared his discovery with Europe. This caused more Europeans to explore and settle in America, helping make America what it is today. However, some do not think that Columbus discovered America because of the Vikings and Native Americans that were there before him and for many other reasons.

Should Columbus be the one credited for discovering America? If not, who should be?

[sadolakced acid]

a man sets sail for india, lands there, doesn't find the prince of india, but still think's it's india. He then sails back to europe and says he found india. he dies saying he found india.

should, then, he be credited with discovering something that's not india?

((if he was the first, then he could be credited. If he were to first to realize it was new, he could be credited- but alas, he was neither)

[Spirited Away]

a man sets sail for india, lands there, doesn't find the prince of india, but still think's it's india.  He then sails back to europe and says he found india.  he dies saying he found india.

should, then, he be credited with discovering something that's not india?

Unfortunately, Columbus wasn't a geographical genius, nor were MOST men like him in that time period so I will say this: it's true, Christopher Columbus is famous because he found something he wasn't looking for, but he FOUND IT, nonetheless.

Lets break this down. Marco Polo recorded that Japan was about 1,500 miles east of China. Ptolemy said that the Earth was a lot smaller than it really was and wrongly predicted that Europe and Asia were actually a lot bigger than they really were. Therefore, CC had LOGICAL reasons to conclude that Japan was only 3000 miles away from Portugal. With limitted and very inaccurate knowledge, of course he would believe he arrived in India. How could anyone expect any more than that?

If anyone is to blame, Ptolemy and Marco Polo should share it. However, we must be realistic here. Geography isn't a knowledge given on a silver plater.

((if he was the first, then he could be credited.  If he were to first to realize it was new, he could be credited- but alas, he was neither)

Again, history does not give the name of the first discoverer of that great mass of land. However, we do have the name of the one who brought its existence into a new light and inspired explorers, settlers... etc to venture into the new land. He shouldn't be credited as the first to arrive there because that would be untrue, just like it was untrue that Fleming found penicillin on his own one day. He should just be credited for discovering the new world for the civilized world. That's what I'm debating for.




Having a Queen on your back demanding that you bring back spice trade from India don't really help your peace of mind either.