🌎 Who discovered America?

A long time ago, a brave explorer named Christopher Columbus sailed across the big ocean 🌊 in his ships called Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria. He wanted to find a new way to India, but instead, he found a new land called America! �

People already lived there, like the Native Americans, but Columbus was the first from Europe to visit. 🚢

In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing for Spain, set out to find a westward sea route to Asia. 🗺️ Instead, he landed in the Bahamas, thinking he had reached the East Indies. That’s why Native Americans were called "Indians" for a long time!

But did you know? Vikings, led by Leif Erikson, actually reached North America around the year 1000—almost 500 years before Columbus! 🛶

Columbus’s voyages led to European exploration of the Americas, but it’s important to remember that millions of Native Americans already lived there. 🌿

The discovery of America is more complex than just one person! 🌎 Here’s the breakdown:

• Vikings (around 1000 AD): Leif Erikson and Norse explorers established a short-lived settlement in Newfoundland, Canada, called Vinland. 🛡️
• Christopher Columbus (1492): Sailing for Spain, he reached the Caribbean, believing it was Asia. His voyages opened the Americas to European colonization. ⚓
• Native Americans: They had lived there for thousands of years before any Europeans arrived. 🌾

Columbus’s journeys had a huge impact, but they also led to difficult changes for Native peoples. It’s important to learn about all sides of history. 📜