Who discovered the United States?

Mar 2009
2,188
2
Popular history says Columbus, but long before Columbus there were the Vikings and possibly other explorers reaching the United States from across the Atlantic. In addition there were Indians living in the United States, and also a link-up with Asia. What are your thoughts about who the discovers were?
 
Jan 2009
639
5
Technically it would be whoever the first people were who crossed the land bridge.

As far as European explorers, I think it goes: Vikings, Vespuci (probably misspelled), Columbus.
 
Mar 2009
2,188
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Technically it would be whoever the first people were who crossed the land bridge.

As far as European explorers, I think it goes: Vikings, Vespuci (probably misspelled), Columbus.
What about the Asians who crossed over from Russia and the Far East on the West side?
 
Apr 2009
1,943
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Disunited Queendom
What about the Asians who crossed over from Russia and the Far East on the West side?

I thought that was what he meant?

But yeah, i think the Vikings were over there on the East Coast - probably New Hampshire area?

Also, i've heard rumours of even Romans over there! Though i doubt i could back that one up!
 
Mar 2009
422
4
Florida, USA
There is some evidence that the Chinese sailed to the New World. They sent out several exploratory fleets, but when they returned, there had been a change at the top, and China proceeded to isolate itself. Now there is a decision that dramatically affected the course of history.

-12,300 BCE
1000 to1300 - Vikings (including Labrador, which is on the mainland)
1421 - Chinese fleet
1492 - Columbus
 
Jan 2009
181
0
Philadelphia
Popular history says Columbus, but long before Columbus there were the Vikings and possibly other explorers reaching the United States from across the Atlantic. In addition there were Indians living in the United States, and also a link-up with Asia. What are your thoughts about who the discovers were?
According to the Christian Doctrine known as the Doctrine of Discovery, it was Columbus. Didn't matter who was there or before, if they wern't ruled by a Christian they were heathens and enimies of the church. This principle guided the Manifest Destiny into the U.S. west; Christian people to discover lands inhabited by natives, who were heathens, have an ultimate title to and dominion over these lands and peoples. The wall of seperation of church and state seems to have a door in it, that can be opened or shut, depending on the cause.
 
Mar 2009
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The wall of seperation of church and state seems to have a door in it, that can be opened or shut, depending on the cause.
I like the way you put it :) Very true, and politicians use it very much to their advantage, especially during election campaigns.
 
Apr 2009
1,943
5
Disunited Queendom
I would like to believe they had an under-water ocean palace. Sort of everybody's dream place ... :)

Underwater? I thought it was buried by the ocean, implying the city was above sea level in the first case?
 
Apr 2009
1,943
5
Disunited Queendom
Mine is a bit of fiction and utopia. The land of the never never .... in history terms. :)

I was always kind of neutral toward the idea. I like to keep the possibility in mind.

Most likely it didn't exist. I often see it as a pseudo-theological metaphor. That it wasn't wise to anger, or go against the wishes of the Gods, or some such religious bunkum.

But according to Plato, he visited a priest, Sais, in Egypt. Who told him of the land of Atlantis. According to Sais, this was about 9600 BC. It had been a Naval power ruled over by a succession of kings.

I think that it may actually have been a task of self-glorifying for Plato, really. Considering he saw Athenian civilisation as the epitome of perfection and success. Atlantis was its adversary and its antithesis. Athens was the divine republic, Atlantis was the Godless monarchy. The supposed victory of Athens when Atlantis had attacked was sheer vanity. The Atlanteans would have had to be very poor seafarers (unlikely if they were a naval power), very poor fighters (they were supposedly the leading power - and very imperialistic - of their time against a pre-civilised Athens not even in the Classical age as yet) or incredibly stupid with their logistics (again unlikely if they had so much experience), or a mixture of these.

However, think "what if" and keep your mind open. It may be that history shall need to be rewritten. But if so, i'd suggest they were far different from what Plato claimed.
 
Mar 2009
2,188
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However, think "what if" and keep your mind open. It may be that history shall need to be rewritten. But if so, i'd suggest they were far different from what Plato claimed.
Totally agreed. History needs to be rewritten. Wonder who would qualify for a job like that? :)
 
Apr 2009
1,943
5
Disunited Queendom
Totally agreed. History needs to be rewritten. Wonder who would qualify for a job like that? :)

Not what i meant. Nations would start blotting out the horrific cruelties they have inflicted in the past, people would forget and it would more easily happen again.
 
Mar 2009
2,188
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Not what i meant. Nations would start blotting out the horrific cruelties they have inflicted in the past, people would forget and it would more easily happen again.
People seem to forget anyway. We may remember as far back as World War II but World War I is beginning to get foggy around the edges. We seem to have time against us, given that our life expectancy is generally less than a century. :)
 
Mar 2009
159
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North Carolina
I'm not sure if anyone can really claim they discovered America. I mean the big three didn't even know they were on what they thought they were on. So it isn't really a discovery, is it? Columbus thought he was in Asia. The Vikings and Chinese may have just wandered here by chance. No one really stuck a flag in the ground and went "Right, this is a new country, and I'll name it Rick." And the sailor next to him said "You can't name a country Rick! You have to name it something important sounding." The the Captain was like. "Fine, Titicaca it is."
 
Mar 2009
2,751
6
Undisclosed
I'm not sure if anyone can really claim they discovered America. I mean the big three didn't even know they were on what they thought they were on. So it isn't really a discovery, is it? Columbus thought he was in Asia. The Vikings and Chinese may have just wandered here by chance. No one really stuck a flag in the ground and went "Right, this is a new country, and I'll name it Rick." And the sailor next to him said "You can't name a country Rick! You have to name it something important sounding." The the Captain was like. "Fine, Titicaca it is."

Maybe it should have been named after Chief Massasoit, the leader of the Wamponoag village, who attended the first Thanksgiving. :confused:
 
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