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.

[rOckThISshYt]

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.
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.

How do you know all tis?



Also, a friend of mine who saw this debate had a good input.

This debate has turned into another. The dabate could technicly be "The definiton of 'Discover'" Some people believe that it is the people who landed first and some people think it's who helped make America what it is today. What do you think?

[Spirited Away]

How do you know all tis?  

From the internet Well, I remember reading these things here and there and I research them to reinforce my argument. Here's a type of website that helped to explained what Columbus thought and what people of his time thought: http://www.phy6.org/stargaze/Scolumb.htm
It states that even the King, backed by educated scholars of course, doubted the journey thinking that India would be too far off. All he had was knowledge from different people who assumed the distance and the geography of the world. So, had Columbus not sailed, the people would still remain ignorant of the New World. They were ALL "fools", you see, until Columbus made them somewhat smarter (though he remained ignorant).

Also, a friend of mine who saw this debate had a good input.
This debate has turned into another. The dabate could technicly be "The definiton of 'Discover'" Some people believe that it is the people who landed first and some people think it's who helped make America what it is today. What do you think?

I think everyone had a hand in developing this country. I'm not going to take credit away from those who deserve credits because that would be demeaning their contributions, when in truth, without certain contributions, America wouldn't be America. However, the later contributions to the revolution, to form the Declaration... etc may not even have happened. We'll never know. I would even say the faulty information that Ptolomy indirectly passed on to Columbus was a contribution. I'm not about to say Ptolomy was a fool because he had to the wrong calculations, because that would mean everyone in history was foolish. A number of well-learned people thought like Ptolomy, you see. Maybe that's true. Maybe everyone IS foolish, but that doesn't make their contributions any less important.

[rOckThISshYt]

From the internet Well, I remember reading these things here and there and I research them to reinforce my argument. Here's a type of website that helped to explained what Columbus thought and what people of his time thought: http://www.phy6.org/stargaze/Scolumb.htm
It states that even the King, backed by educated scholars of course, doubted the journey thinking that India would be too far off. All he had was knowledge from different people who assumed the distance and the geography of the world. So, had Columbus not sailed, the people would still remain ignorant of the New World. They were ALL "fools", you see, until Columbus made them somewhat smarter (though he remained ignorant).
I think everyone had a hand in developing this country. I'm not going to take credit away from those who deserve credits because that would be demeaning their contributions, when in truth, without certain contributions, America wouldn't be America. However, the later contributions to the revolution, to form the Declaration... etc may not even have happened. We'll never know. I would even say the faulty information that Ptolomy indirectly passed on to Columbus was a contribution. I'm not about to say Ptolomy was a fool because he had to the wrong calculations, because that would mean everyone in history was foolish. A number of well-learned people thought like Ptolomy, you see. Maybe that's true. Maybe everyone IS foolish, but that doesn't make their contributions any less important.

Wow. Impressive. I'm way too lazy to research a debate topic on CB. It doesn't matter that much to me. lol.