Debunking Myths: The Truths Behind the Discovery of America

The discovery of America is a historical event of great importance that has given rise to numerous myths and truths over the years.

Given the repercussions that this historical moment had, both in the development of Europe and America, many speculations, myths and legends have arisen, many of them being believed to this day, more than 500 years after the discovery.

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Below, we share some of these myths along with the historical truths related to the encounter between Christopher Columbus and the American continent:

Christopher Columbus proved that the Earth was round

The idea that Columbus proved that the Earth was round is a myth. In fact, the general belief at the time was that the Earth was spherical, and Columbus was convinced that he could reach Asia by sailing west.

Columbus arrived in what is now the United States

Columbus never reached the territory we know today as the United States. On his first voyage, he landed in the Caribbean islands and later reached Central and South America.

Native Americans believed the Spanish were gods

While there was a certain degree of awe on the part of the Native Americans when they saw the Europeans, they did not universally believe that they were gods. In many cases, there were cultural misunderstandings and clashes of civilizations.

Columbus was the first to discover America

America was already inhabited by numerous indigenous cultures long before the arrival of Columbus. The Vikings, led by Leif Erikson, had arrived in North America in the 11th century, and other indigenous cultures had established civilizations on the continent for millennia.

Columbus sailed to prove that the Earth was not flat

Although the myth that people of the time believed the Earth was flat persists, most scholars had already accepted the idea of ​​a spherical Earth long before Columbus’ voyage.

Columbus was Spanish

Although Columbus sailed under the Spanish flag, he was born in Genoa, Italy. His original name was Cristoforo Colombo.

The discovery of America is a complex event with a series of myths and truths surrounding it. Despite inaccuracies and misunderstandings, this event marked a turning point in history that changed the course of exploration and the encounter of cultures around the world.

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Recognizing and understanding both the myths and the truths is essential to having a complete view of this chapter of history.

2023-10-12 22:53:22
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