24 August
2013
Christopher Columbus
I was reading a book on cocktails and one thing led to the other – suddenly I was on Wikipedia reading about Christopher Columbus. Learnt three things that I had not the faintest clue of –
1. Who was the first European to come to America?
2. How many voyages did Columbus make to America?
3. Which part or parts of modern USA did Columbus visit?
Check out wikipedia for the answers. Let me know if the answer surprised you too…
Eric The Red? Five? No clue but could be Florida.
He never actually stepped on to the mainland.
Oh and it was Vikings who navigated in 13 century to the Canada
Thanks for ruining my evening…:-( I can’t stop reading.
I will not get sucked into this trap. I could browse Wikipedia for a long time
Gerardo and ruined-evening-Brad :-), as you probably have realized that Rini is right. I thought Columbus was the first European to come to America. I was wrong by over four centuries!! I thought Columbus came only once. He came four times!! And he never ever really came to USA!! Just the West indies (and Cuba)!!!
I have know this stuff cos I do teach this to 8th graders. Personally, we have to do away with Columbus Day. If you can call Boston massacre a massacre then what Columbus did was genocide. Did you know America was named after Americo Vespuchi (not a Lang. Art teacher so excuse the spelling)
Vespucci. That part I knew
Amerigo Vespucci.. Amerigo lead to the name America. WE had a Malayalam non detailed reader in high school ( translated from English ) on the landing of Vespucci and the push to the West Coast by the intrepid explorers.