History of the United States

[Undefeated]

A Short History of the United States for School Use by Edward Channing (Text, Audio).
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CHAPTER I

THE EUROPEAN DISCOVERY OF AMERICA

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1. Leif Ericson discovers America, 1000.

In our early childhood many of us learned to repeat the lines:

     Columbus sailed the ocean blue
     In fourteen hundred, ninety-two.

We thought that he was the first European to visit America. But nearly five hundred years before his time Leif Ericson had discovered the New World. He was a Northman and the son of Eric the Red. Eric had already founded a colony in Greenland, and Leif sailed from Norway to make him a visit. This was in the year 1000. Day after day Leif and his men were tossed about on the sea until they reached an unknown land where they found many grape-vines. They called it Vinland or Wineland. They Then sailed northward and reached Greenland in safety. Precisely where Vinland was is not known. But it certainly was part of North America. Leif Ericson, the Northman, was therefore the real discoverer of America.

[ionel]

22 minutes ago, Undefeated said:

Day after day Leif and his men were tossed about on the sea until they reached an unknown land where they found many grape-vines. 

How do we know ^^ this ^^^ but not this >>

25 minutes ago, Undefeated said:

Precisely where Vinland was is not known. 

 

[Undefeated]

14 minutes ago, ionel said:

How do we know ^^ this ^^^ but not this >>

 

And how do we know Leif was the son of Eric the Red, not Eric the Blue?

[ionel]

1 minute ago, Undefeated said:

And how do we know Leif was the son of Eric the Red, not Eric the Blue?

A very good point.  Did they have paternity tests back then? 

[Undefeated]

3 minutes ago, ionel said:

A very good point.  Did they have paternity tests back then? 

Nah. Most likely they just asked Leif’s mom what color Eric was.

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, Undefeated said:

Nah. Most likely they just asked Leif’s mom what color Eric was.

What if she was colorblind?

[Undefeated]

5 minutes ago, ionel said:

What if she was colorblind?

Good one. Lemme smoke a cigarette and see if I can crack this mystery.

[Tripnsweep]

George Washington wasn't the first president either. 

[Offthemat]

You heard of the Minnesota Vikings?

[JimmySpeaks]

12 minutes ago, Offthemat said:

You heard of the Minnesota Vikings?

Skol

[Undefeated]

 

11 hours ago, Undefeated said:

A Short History of the United States for School Use by Edward Channing (Text, Audio).
-------------------------------------

CHAPTER I

THE EUROPEAN DISCOVERY OF AMERICA

-------------------------------------

 

1. Leif Ericson discovers America, 1000.

In our early childhood many of us learned to repeat the lines:

     Columbus sailed the ocean blue
     In fourteen hundred, ninety-two.

We thought that he was the first European to visit America. But nearly five hundred years before his time Leif Ericson had discovered the New World. He was a Northman and the son of Eric the Red. Eric had already founded a colony in Greenland, and Leif sailed from Norway to make him a visit. This was in the year 1000. Day after day Leif and his men were tossed about on the sea until they reached an unknown land where they found many grape-vines. They called it Vinland or Wineland. They Then sailed northward and reached Greenland in safety. Precisely where Vinland was is not known. But it certainly was part of North America. Leif Ericson, the Northman, was therefore the real discoverer of America.

 

2. Early European Travelers.

The people of Europe knew more of the lands of Asia than they knew of Vinland. For hundreds of years missionaries, traders, and travelers visited the Far East. They brought back to Europe silks and spices, and ornaments of gold and of silver. They told marvelous tales of rich lands and great princes. One of these travelers was a Venetian named Marco Polo. He told of Cathay or China and of Cipango or Japan. This last country was an island. Its king was so rich that even the floors of his palaces were of pure gold. Suddenly the Turks conquered the lands between Europe and the golden East. They put an end to this trading and traveling. New ways to India, China, and Japan must be found.

[Undefeated]

35 minutes ago, Undefeated said:

For hundreds of years missionaries, traders, and travelers visited the Far East. They brought back to Europe silks and spices, and ornaments of gold and of silver.

Man, those Europeans were real slick. They’d send missionaries to Asia, and in return haul back silk, spices, gold, and silver - like, seriously, missionaries in exchange for spices?! So why not missionaries for Buddhist monks or Mullahs?

Edited 1 hour ago by Undefeated