The question of who discovered America first is complex and depends on how "discovery" is defined. While Christopher Columbus is often credited with discovering America in 1492, historical evidence shows that Norse explorer Leif Erikson landed in North America around the year 1000 A.D., about 500 years before Columbus. Additionally, indigenous peoples had been living in the Americas for thousands of years before any Europeans arrived, having migrated from Asia possibly over 20,000 years ago. Therefore, the "first discovery" could refer to indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants or to various waves of explorers who arrived later.
Indigenous Peoples
The first humans to reach the Americas migrated from Africa and Asia, with archaeological evidence suggesting humans inhabited the continent at least 20,000 to 30,000 years ago, long before any European arrival. These peoples developed diverse and complex societies across the continent.
Norse Exploration
Leif Erikson and other Viking explorers from Iceland are believed to be the first Europeans to set foot in North America, establishing a settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland around 1000 A.D. This predates Columbus by nearly five centuries.
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the Spanish crown, reached the Caribbean in 1492. While not the absolute first to discover America, his voyages opened the way for widespread European exploration and colonization. In summary, indigenous peoples were the first humans in America, Norse explorers were the first known Europeans to reach the continent, and Columbus's arrival is notable for initiating sustained contact between Europe and the Americas.
