Christopher Columbus is traditionally credited with "discovering" America in 1492 when he landed in the Caribbean, specifically on an island in the Bahamas known to its native inhabitants as Guanahani. He made four voyages to the region between 1492 and 1502, opening the way for widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas under the Spanish flag
. However, Columbus was not the first human to reach the Americas. Indigenous peoples had been living in the Americas for thousands of years before his arrival. Additionally, Norse explorers, led by Leif Erikson, reached the North American mainland around the year 1000, nearly 500 years before Columbus. Archaeological evidence of a Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland supports this
. Therefore, while Columbus's voyages were pivotal in connecting Europe with the Americas and initiating sustained contact and colonization, the true "discovery" of America depends on perspective:
- Indigenous peoples were the original inhabitants and discoverers of the continents.
- Norse explorers were the first known Europeans to reach North America.
- Columbus introduced the Americas to Western Europe, leading to the modern era of exploration and colonization
In summary, Columbus is credited with the European discovery that led to lasting contact, but the Americas were known and inhabited long before his arrival.
