10 Popular History Myths (You Probably Believe)

Speaking of Christopher Columbus, let's talk about him for a second.

What's that old jingle? "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," and lo and behold, he discovered the New World. By accident, he became the first European to set foot in this hitherto unknown land. What an inspiring story. At least, it WOULD be, were it not for the whole part where he was NOT.

Christopher Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas in October of 1492 (scholars aren't sure exactly where). You know which Europeans beat him? The Vikings. Do you know by how long? Around 500 years.

The first Viking settlements in North America were in Greenland, established some time in the 980s, according to the Sagas of the Icelanders. This settlement lasted for 518 years, over 160 years longer than the U.S. has existed. The Vikings also wrote about Vinland, which is assumed to be Canada. Explorer Leif Erikson landed there around the year 1000, and the Vikings established what is now known as L'Anse aux Meadows that same year. They eventually fled the continent, due in part to battles with Native Americans.

Oh, and the Native Americans? They were here first. Like, inarguably first. They beat Columbus by over 9000 years. So... yeah...