I agree with Ibis that Leif Erickson is talked about, especially in Duluth, Mn where we have a park named after him and to which people sailed in a replica boat in the 1920’s. http://leiferiksonvikingship.com/portfolio-items/history/
He has was also in the second installment of a popular Netflix tv show called Vikings Valhalla. I also hear about him... every single year when Colombus day rolls around.
Great article! Have you written anything on the history of Africans on the American continent that pre-dated Columbus? I've read some Africana scholars who have noted that Columbus' journals referencing African exploration to the continent long before his voyage.
I love your substack! Today's about Leif Erickson is timely: back in the day I was a teacher and I always told the truth about history (there's much truth missing!)- Erickson on was such figure.
Why don't so many know this? We know that history is written by the 'victors' those who dominate, and that's why much is missing in the public dialog - so you keep up the work. good work. Truth telling is vital today because that mess of a 'government' right now is determined to wipe the truth from the documents. So you keep truth telling, and keep up the 'good trouble.'
BTW I laughing tell the real reason Erickson's story is unknown: I am of Scandinavian descent, and we all know the norse are not people who like the limelight. They don't brag on themselves. But they are an interesting people...
2. Its not seen as important because they didn’t have a major impact on philosophy, society, science, politics etc.
3. Christopher Columbus is a far cooler and inspirational figure with an interesting story that showcases a man who was better in many ways than his contemporaries either by his commitment to navigation, his curiosity for exploring despite others indifference, and his far more humanistic approach to engaging with new peoples/cultures eg. Befriending and protecting native tribes (which he called the most christian people on earth) from more violent ones, setting up commerce, and punishing his own men for defying his orders and behaving like savages.
Yes, including hanging his own men who betrayed his orders and mistreated them. Colombus's story is an inspiring one of a man who was much better than his contemporaries and as an individual a model ( that could be improved upon) for what the meeting of two cultures could/should be - one of mutual trade and admiration for the positive qualities.
That and many other sources ignore the fact that Benjamin Franklin being one founding father who took notes on the Iroquois is far outweighed by the fact that virtually all the founding fathers studied the enlightenment thinkers like Locke and used that language to craft the government not some “Great law of peace”. As well as the obvious Roman influence and documented study.
It’s pop history for political points to think Benjamin Franklin’s notes outweigh the evidence that ALL the founders studied everything else. The founding of America was not one guys idea and all the guys involved didn’t agree in alot. It’s also silly to not recognize Parallel development, Iroquois aren’t the only people to develop a confederacy.
Also thanks to Deep Research AI you can find a whole boatload of resources that you can validate for accuracy which is made easier by only asking it to access academic sources , where this type of stuff is common knowledge.
Yeah as I dive deeper as recent as 2019 maps attactched to this whole story about Leif have been found to be foregeries. Also the evidence of Leif specifically reaching North America is very weak considering it comes from "Sagas" written at least 200 years after the man himself lived which are just oral stories which do contain definite fictional events and people.
Archaeological finds are also hotly contested with pretty good counter evidence. Which personally for this article to not even mention the debates is very disingenuous and not how serious historical thinking or communication should be done.
I agree with Ibis that Leif Erickson is talked about, especially in Duluth, Mn where we have a park named after him and to which people sailed in a replica boat in the 1920’s. http://leiferiksonvikingship.com/portfolio-items/history/
He has was also in the second installment of a popular Netflix tv show called Vikings Valhalla. I also hear about him... every single year when Colombus day rolls around.
I’ve heard this name before but definitely didn’t realize he was a Viking explorer! so interesting!!
Great article! Have you written anything on the history of Africans on the American continent that pre-dated Columbus? I've read some Africana scholars who have noted that Columbus' journals referencing African exploration to the continent long before his voyage.
I love your substack! Today's about Leif Erickson is timely: back in the day I was a teacher and I always told the truth about history (there's much truth missing!)- Erickson on was such figure.
Why don't so many know this? We know that history is written by the 'victors' those who dominate, and that's why much is missing in the public dialog - so you keep up the work. good work. Truth telling is vital today because that mess of a 'government' right now is determined to wipe the truth from the documents. So you keep truth telling, and keep up the 'good trouble.'
BTW I laughing tell the real reason Erickson's story is unknown: I am of Scandinavian descent, and we all know the norse are not people who like the limelight. They don't brag on themselves. But they are an interesting people...
Great article Kahlil 👏👏👏
I knew a little about Erickson, yet only due to hearing someone other than a history teacher speaking of/refering to him. Great article!
I learned about Lief Erickson in high school, as well as Amerigo Vespucci.
Columbus was lost and thought he had found a sea path to India, hence the "West Indies." Money and contacts will get you a holiday.
Finished Viking Valhalla last night…wish they would’ve kept it going.
1. Many people talk about it.
2. Its not seen as important because they didn’t have a major impact on philosophy, society, science, politics etc.
3. Christopher Columbus is a far cooler and inspirational figure with an interesting story that showcases a man who was better in many ways than his contemporaries either by his commitment to navigation, his curiosity for exploring despite others indifference, and his far more humanistic approach to engaging with new peoples/cultures eg. Befriending and protecting native tribes (which he called the most christian people on earth) from more violent ones, setting up commerce, and punishing his own men for defying his orders and behaving like savages.
I'm confused.
Columbus protected native tribes?
Yes, including hanging his own men who betrayed his orders and mistreated them. Colombus's story is an inspiring one of a man who was much better than his contemporaries and as an individual a model ( that could be improved upon) for what the meeting of two cultures could/should be - one of mutual trade and admiration for the positive qualities.
https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2023/09/the-haudenosaunee-confederacy-and-the-constitution/
https://academic.oup.com/publius/article-abstract/28/2/99/1847161
That and many other sources ignore the fact that Benjamin Franklin being one founding father who took notes on the Iroquois is far outweighed by the fact that virtually all the founding fathers studied the enlightenment thinkers like Locke and used that language to craft the government not some “Great law of peace”. As well as the obvious Roman influence and documented study.
It’s pop history for political points to think Benjamin Franklin’s notes outweigh the evidence that ALL the founders studied everything else. The founding of America was not one guys idea and all the guys involved didn’t agree in alot. It’s also silly to not recognize Parallel development, Iroquois aren’t the only people to develop a confederacy.
Interesting.
Please recommend some reading.
Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem
Book by Carol Delaney
and
The Enemies of Christopher Colombus by Thomas Bowden.
Are my favorite books.
[I of course recommend the books to do your own source validation for particular claims.] There are a few articles/ Interviews by Carol Delaney (and others) that talk about this stuff which will appear by googling it.https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35951/critics-of-columbus-day-get-history-wrong-scholar-says
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christopher-Columbus/The-second-and-third-voyages
There are studies like this one that dont get much press lending credibility to his claims about cannibals who terrorized the friendly tribes he came across . https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/carib-skulls-boost-credibility-of-columbus-cannibal-claims/
Also thanks to Deep Research AI you can find a whole boatload of resources that you can validate for accuracy which is made easier by only asking it to access academic sources , where this type of stuff is common knowledge.
Thanks for the resources. I'll check them out.
History is only history of it's true.
Yeah as I dive deeper as recent as 2019 maps attactched to this whole story about Leif have been found to be foregeries. Also the evidence of Leif specifically reaching North America is very weak considering it comes from "Sagas" written at least 200 years after the man himself lived which are just oral stories which do contain definite fictional events and people.
Archaeological finds are also hotly contested with pretty good counter evidence. Which personally for this article to not even mention the debates is very disingenuous and not how serious historical thinking or communication should be done.