1. AMERICA – FINDER’S KEEPERS !!! So if Columbus did not “discover” America, who did? 1000 AD (CE) Leif Eriksson establishes Vinland (Newfoundland) but never stays. Also, it was Bjarni Herolfsson who actually first sighted land in 986 AD but he was not the son of a Viking king like Leif !!! A Viking Village: Thorfinn Karlsefni sets up a 2 year stay, but probs with natives: SKERLINGS (Norse for wretched dwarf) Village once saved by pregnant bare breasted Viking women !!! Artifacts found up and down the east coast of Canada and New England giving evidence to Viking presence. Why no credit for centuries?

2. Other possibilities… Saint Brendan in his humble curragh he is called the “Navigator”, you know! African-Egyptians in reed vessels? vs. In 1982, 600 year old bell found in California. Such bells used on ancient Japanese fishing boats

3. BUT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION: IT WAS OUR MONGOLIAN BUDDIES WHO DISCOVERED AMERICA WHEN CROSSING THE LAND BRIDGE AT THE BERING STRAIT. Why don’t we live in the United States of New Mongolia or the United States of Columbus for that matter? (1499-1504) Amerigo Vespucci that’s why. who sailed with a Capt. Hojeda to the coast of northern Brazil to the mouth of the Amazon Old Amerigo wrote fraudulent letters and book claiming that he discovered a “Modus Novus” a New World Several years later a Dutch cartographer Martin Waldseemueller honored Vespucci by labeling the Modus Novus – “AMERICA” on his newly designed maps

4. First Europeans in what will be USA territory Ponce de Leon 1519 lands and names Florida (“Easter Flowers”) looking for “Fountain of Youth” Giovanni Verrazano 1524 sailing for the French, lands at “Cape Fear, NC” continues up to “New York City Bay” Hernando Desoto 1541 goes to the mouth of the Mississippi River, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) 1496 !!! Lands in Newfoundland, claiming all of North America for King Henry VIII of England There were others too, such as Cartier, LaSalle, Coronado, and even some Jesuits: Marquette and Joliette who prowled around the Great Lakes and upper Ohio River Valley. Coronado more out west in Arizona and Colorado. BUT THE SPANISH ARE THE KEY FOR EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT IN ALL OF THE AMERICAS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR ENGLAND’S SEA DOGS AND THE FATEFUL YEAR 1588, WE COULD WELL HAVE BEEN CALLED THE CITIZENS OF “LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS” !!!!!