Pre-Columbus Discovery

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Evidence for Pre-Columbus discovery of the Americas Columbus is widely known as the first explorer to ever reach the Americas. Many people around the globe think that the Spanish were the first nation to set foot on American soil. Several other nations came before the Spaniards. There is evidence that the Chinese, Vikings, and Polynesians reached the Americas before Columbus did.
The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty wanted to show off the wealth and power of the Ming Empire. He constructed huge treasure ships. He choose a Chinese Admiral, Zheng He, to command the huge fleet. The Ming rulers welcomed Indian and Muslim visitors, and learned much about the geography of the world through them. Developments in shipbuilding and in the arts of seafaring …show more content…

The cartographer wrote on the map that he had copied it from a map that dates back to 1418. If this map is authentic, it would be the first map of the New World. The map shows the continents Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas in great detail. They formed the coast of America quite accurately. (China)
There is also evidence that the Vikings have visited the New World before Columbus. Most historians believe that the Vikings came to North America around 1000 A.D. A brave explorer, Leif Eriksson, sailed to Greenland and on to the North American continent around 1000 A.D. They most likely landed on the shores of Nova Scotia, which Leif named Vinland. Leif was the son of the famous explorer, Erick the Red, who found Greenland. Leif never colonized the region, but did spend a winter there. (Wilkins)
When Leif Erikson returned to Greenland in 1004 A.D. he told about the lands that he had visited “Moreover, it had been a most profitable trip. He brought home a large cargo of timber for housebuilding and furniture, and vines (withes), much in demand for bindings, baskets and ship building.” (Holland) Thorwald, Leif’s brother, wanted to go back and sufficiently explore the new land that his brother had found. Leif had not let his men go more than a few miles away from camp. According to the sagas he was wounded in a fight with the Native Americans while exploring a river. He was buried in the New World. The others returned to Leif’s old camp and stayed for the winter.

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