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Re: RAIN 10/10: Who really discovered America?



When I took a course in world exploration given by Professor John Parry
(himself a sailor and navigator) he made it quite clear that a direct
result of the Portuguese unwillingness to leave the sight of land was a
loss of many ships and crew.  Apparently, a wind blows across the African
continent (sorry that I can't recall the name of the wind but I took the
couse nearly 30 years ago) and drops off the cliffs causing navigational
havoc, and consequent destrction.

It was only when a captain had the courage to sail from West Africa dwon
the open sea until it was deemed appropriate to turn eastward was it
possible to round the Cape and discover India, etc.

Ronnie C's two cents!

-----Original Message-----
From:   Kurilecz, Peter [SMTP:peter.kurilecz@WOODSIDESUMMITGROUP.COM]
Sent:   Tuesday, October 10, 2000 10:16 AM
To:     ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject:        Re: RAIN 10/10: Who really discovered America?

The recent Viking exhibit in DC pointed out that the settlement L'Anse aux
Meadows, Newfoundland was more indicative of an outpost than it was of a
colony. The same exhibit pointed out that changing climatic conditions had
an effect on the Viking settlements in Greenland as well as the sea route
to
Newfoundland. Don't forget that the vessels used by the Vikings were
essentially open boats.

Mark Jaeger makes some excellent points concerning taking advantage of an
opportunity. IIRC my early history courses point out that the Portuguese
cautiously explored the coast line of Africa, remaining in sight of land so
as not to become lost. Columbus' great achievement is that he took on a
voyage out of sight of land to unknow areas. He assumed that by traveling
along a certain latitude he would encounter Asia. Why this latitude?
Because
it was based upon star sightings. What Columbus did not have was a way to
calculate longitude ie distance traveled, that would not become available
until the early 19th century. But that is another story.


Peter A. Kurilecz CRM, CA
Manager, Records Management Group
Woodside Summit Group Inc
Midlothian, Virginia
Office: 804-744-1247 x23
Fax: 804-744-4947
mailto:peter.kurilecz@woodsidesummitgroup.com

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