Nokea
Christopher Columbus is often credited for discovering America. This is
incorrect. First, it is impossible to "discover" something where people already
live; however, Christopher Columbus did explore places in the New World
that were previously untouched by Europe, so the term “explorer†would be
more accurate. Another correction must be made, as well: Christopher
Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the present day
Americas! Rather, it was Leif Erikson who first came to the New World and
contacted the natives, nearly five hundred years before Christopher
Columbus.
Leif Erikson, the son of Erik the Red (a famous Viking outlaw and explorer in
his own right), was born in either 970 or 980, depending on which historian you seek. His own family, though, did not raise Leif, which was a Viking
tradition. Instead, one of Erik's prisoners taught Leif reading and writing,
languages, sailing, and weaponry. At age 12, Leif was considered a man and
returned to his family. He killed a man during a dispute shortly after his
return, and the council banished the Erikson clan to Greenland.
In 999, Leif left Greenland and traveled to Norway where he would serve as a
guard to King Olaf Tryggvason. It was there that he became a convert to
Christianity. Leif later tried to return home with the intention of taking
supplies and spreading Christianity to Greenland, however his ship was blown
off course and he arrived in a strange new land: present day Newfoundland,
Canada.
When he finally returned to his adopted homeland Greenland, Leif consulted
with a merchant who had also seen the shores of this previously unknown
land we now know as Canada. The son of the legendary Viking explorer then
gathered a crew of 35 men and set sail. Leif became the first European to
touch foot in the New World as he explored present-day Baffin Island and
Labrador, Canada. His crew called the land Vinland since it was plentiful with
grapes.
During their time in present-day Newfoundland, Leif's expedition made
contact with the natives whom they referred to as Skraelings (which translates
to "wretched ones" in Norse). There are several secondhand accounts of their
meetings. Some contemporaries described trade between the peoples. Other
accounts describe clashes where the Skraelings defeated the Viking explorers
with long spears, while still others claim the Vikings dominated the natives.
Regardless of the circumstances, it seems that the Vikings made contact of
some kind. This happened around 1000, nearly five hundred years before
Columbus famously sailed the ocean blue.
Eventually, in 1003, Leif set sail for home and arrived at Greenland with a
ship full of timber.
In 1020, seventeen years later, the legendary Viking died. Many believe that
Leif Erikson should receive more credit for his contributions in exploring the
New World.
Which of the following battles occurred first?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Shiloh occurred earlier than the other battles listed. Shiloh took place in April 1862 during the American Civil War, making it the earliest battle among the options provided. Cold Harbor occurred in June 1864, Chancellorsville in May 1863, and Atlanta in July-September 1864. Therefore, Shiloh is the correct answer.
Choice A (Cold Harbor) is incorrect because it happened after Shiloh. Choice B (Chancellorsville) is incorrect because it occurred after Shiloh. Choice C (Atlanta) is also incorrect as it took place after Shiloh.