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?

[madchenallein]

Of all these, DaTruKataLYST is the only one who has really bothered to look at history. Everyone keeps saying 'European', but why does 'Europe' have the cachet in the history books? Other societies have contibuted tons to the human experience and they don't get the credit because they don't speak a Romance language? That's bunk.

All you who mentioned Native Americans and the migration over the Bering Strait, props!

The one or possibly two who mentioned the Chinese (or even the Japanese), huge props! They were in western Canada and the Pacific northwest before Leif Ericson was a twinkle in his mama's eye!

Here's another thing to ponder, illustrating the concept of 'why are Europeans all that?'

Gutenberg? A snail. Johannes Gutenberg is lauded as the inventor of a movable type printing press which brought about huge changes in Europe as far as the availability of books and information. Well, I learned this right before moving to Korea: Movable type printing presses existed in Korea before Gutenberg invented his, and before that, China had printing blocks!

So, not everything wonderful comes out of Europe and it pays to ask yourself who is telling you the story you're reading. History is written by the winners, and Koreans and Chinese certainly aren't the monetary benefactors of moveable type.

Huzzah to all those who know their roots

[sadolakced acid]

Of all these, DaTruKataLYST is the only one who has really bothered to look at history.  Everyone keeps saying 'European', but why does 'Europe' have the cachet in the history books?  Other societies have contibuted tons to the human experience and they don't get the credit because they don't speak a Romance language?  That's bunk.

All you who mentioned Native Americans and the migration over the Bering Strait, props!

The one or possibly two who mentioned the Chinese (or even the Japanese), huge props!  They were in western Canada and the Pacific northwest before Leif Ericson was a twinkle in his mama's eye!

Here's another thing to ponder, illustrating the concept of 'why are Europeans all that?'

Gutenberg?  A snail.  Johannes Gutenberg is lauded as the inventor of a movable type printing press which brought about huge changes in Europe as far as the availability of books and information.  Well, I learned this right before moving to Korea: Movable type printing presses existed in Korea before Gutenberg invented his, and before that, China had printing blocks!

So, not everything wonderful comes out of Europe and it pays to ask yourself who is telling you the story you're reading.  History is written by the winners, and Koreans and Chinese certainly aren't the monetary benefactors of moveable type.

Huzzah to all those who know their roots 

stop. this isn't about europeans and thier stuff. it isn't about chinese or koreans. it's about collumbus. if you want to make a topic saying how chinese and koreans are superior to europeans and have facts that can be argued, go right ahead. i won't object to it if you post it in the right place. (meaning, not in this thread)