The Discovery of America: Fantastic Voyages Before Columbus

While American history books had long contended that Christopher Columbus discovered America (an idea still perpetuated every Columbus Day), documents from a number of sources prove that not only did Columbus not discover America, there may have been a long procession of explorers who visited America, beginning with North America’s indigenous population thought to have arrived about 12,000 years ago.  Although there have been several theories supporting the possibility of European, Asian, and Africa explorers–some of which contend long-term trading with the indigenous people centuries before Columbus arrived--most hinge on legend rather than physical proof.  But that’s not to say there isn’t impressive evidence to indicate numerous possibilities of pre-Columbian Discoveries of America, and perhaps even occupation.  And many scholars look first to the story of St. Brendan who is known to have sailed the northern seas centuries before the now accepted “discoverer” of America, Leif Erickson.  Read more . . .