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Re: Don't forget Madoc, Prince of Wales



Hi,

Although this is way off-topic, I must state that
Columbus' position as the true European discoverer of the Americas remains
secure since he was able to "follow-through."  After all, history
is replete with inventors who dreamed up fantastic products but totally
flopped when it came to exploiting and marketing their ideas.  Indeed, Ol'
Chris' example is used in business schools as an illustration of someone
who realized "the vision thing."

The currently fashionable demonization of Columbus in some quarters is
"interesting but irrelevant."  Anyone who looks at seafaring trends of the
late 15th century can feel pretty confident that SOMEONE from
Europe--Spanish, Portuguese, or English--would have eventually completed a
round trip to the Americas. And the end result would have differed from
what actually happened only in degree.

Visits to the west coast of North America were certainly within
the capability of the Chinese.  However, most important to remember, the
"Celestial Empire" made a conscious political decision to turn inward and
conduct no further expeditions like the great fleet that voyaged to East
Africa in late Medieval times. "Vision" + resources + political support +
"follow-through" all helped Columbus become the true "discoverer" of the
Americas.

Regards,

Mark D. Jaeger
Purdue University Libraries
Special Collections

On Tue, 10 Oct 2000, Michael Knies wrote:

> The Atlantic Monthly published an article on pre-Columbian visitors to
> America in January.
>
> http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/01/001stengel.htm
>
> Michael Knies
> Special Collections Librarian
> University of Scranton
>
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