Who Really Discovered America?

Written By: Off the Grid News Service  |  Posted: Friday, January 6th, 2012

            Native Americans would respond to the question of who discovered America with a roll of the eyes and reply, "We did, of course." And of course, they would be right. But the question still remains-who from the Old World first realized there was a New World to explore? Two names immediately come to mind such a discussion. Most school children until a generation ago would answer without a second thought that the man who discovered America was Christopher Columbus. Since then, more and more historians have come to believe that honor should really go to Leif Ericsson. But is there another?

            Enter an Islander by the name of Biarni Heriulfson, a trader who regularly crossed the Atlantic between Norway and his home of Island. In the summer of 985, he left Norway to winter with his father. When he arrived in Island, he found his father had sailed for a new land everyone was calling Greenland, recently discovered by Eric the Red. But as Heriulfson set out for Greenland, he took a wrong turn and ended up in a place that would later be called America.

Sign into your account to read the rest of this article. »