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-1 votes
2 answers
448 views

Were beaches red with lobsters upon arrival of Columbus?

I remember reading somewhere that upon arrival in Hispaniola, Columbus found beaches that were so plentiful with lobsters that they appeared red. It is possible I read this in a book by Bill Bryson, ...
Manfredo's user avatar
  • 115
60 votes
4 answers
12k views

Why did Columbus cross the mid-Atlantic instead of exploring from Greenland?

Greenland was known to Europe since long before 1492. In fact, Leif Erikson reached modern Canadian lands around the year 1000, coming from Greenland. That journey was forgotten, but he chose a ...
DrZ214's user avatar
  • 17.2k
7 votes
5 answers
3k views

Was Christopher Columbus Polish?

A Polish friend of mine stated that Columbus was of Polish heritage. Claims are made that he was a Polish immigrant to Italy, and that he came from a disgraced noble family in Poland.
Five Points's user avatar
50 votes
4 answers
68k views

Why is Christopher Columbus credited for "discovering" America?

Even if we ignore the millions of native Americans who lived in the continent before Columbus "discovered" it, even if we ignore other civilizations (eg: Polynesians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Arabs, etc.)...
Orion's user avatar
  • 3,784