Was Columbus the First European to reach North America during the Age of Discovery?
It seems he was not.
Mr. Columbus is the man credited with the discovery of North America. However, the story isn't as straightforward as it seems. The man stumbled upon the Indies that fateful day in 1492, not the North American mainland.
The first European to step foot onto North America during this period was a man named Giovanni Caboto. Rather, John Cabot in English.
Cabot was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1450. He worked as a merchant in the Middle East. His interest in exploring the world compelled him to go on this journey.
King Henry VII granted him the right to discover new lands in 1496. They left Bristol in England in May 1497. Cabot came on a small ship named Matthew. A crew of 20 was on board with him. This would be their second attempt, as the first was a flop.
It is not known where exactly Cabot made landfall, but wherever he did, it was on June 24, 1497.
I picked this date because Cabot was essentially the first European to even set foot on the continent during the Age of Discovery.
A video:
Mr. Columbus is the man credited with the discovery of North America. However, the story isn't as straightforward as it seems. The man stumbled upon the Indies that fateful day in 1492, not the North American mainland.
The first European to step foot onto North America during this period was a man named Giovanni Caboto. Rather, John Cabot in English.
Cabot was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1450. He worked as a merchant in the Middle East. His interest in exploring the world compelled him to go on this journey.
King Henry VII granted him the right to discover new lands in 1496. They left Bristol in England in May 1497. Cabot came on a small ship named Matthew. A crew of 20 was on board with him. This would be their second attempt, as the first was a flop.
It is not known where exactly Cabot made landfall, but wherever he did, it was on June 24, 1497.
I picked this date because Cabot was essentially the first European to even set foot on the continent during the Age of Discovery.
A video: