Who discovered America Amerigo or Columbus?
Neither. It was Leif Erickson, and he called it “Vinland”. However, he was a Norseman, from a backwater of Europe called “Iceland” and nobody really paid attention. His attempt at settlement failed after probably less than five years. Christopher Columbus, some believe, was aware of Leif’s voyage and the reason he dropped so far south as he crossed the Atlantic was that he was trying to avoid a continent he knew was there so he could get to India. Why didn’t he just tell the Spanish Crown that? Because there wasn’t as much money in fishing (the known resource of North America – just ask the Basque) as there was in the fabled treasures of India. And besides, Europe was looking for a way to get silks and spices from the east without having to go through Turk-occupied territory and pay thier taxes. Columbus wasn’t dumb and knew he a better chance getting backing for his expedition if he just left out the part about the inconvenient continent between Spain and the goal of India. It’s known
