James,

Not sure if it is mentioned in 1491, but in the earlier book, "The Invasion 
of America" by Francis Jennings, it is mentioned that archeologists have 
found evidence that the Chinese visited the west coast of South and perhaps 
Central America. There are suggestions that they ventured as far north as 
San Francisco.

Columbus was a map-maker who wanted to get very rich by discovering the 
shortest route to the Spice Islands for whatever country would finance his 
adventure.

Bear in mind that those who were going west to fish the various banks of 
North America were taking on the same perils in just as small, or smaller, 
or craft than Columbus did. It's a matter of whether one is a seafaring man 
or not.

If Columbus was such a "worthy man of his times" why was his governorship of 
an island withdrawn for unsavory practices with the Natives?

It not a matter of presentism, its a matter of debunking childhood myths.

Anne

Anne Pemberton
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http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org 

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