SeekingSimplicity Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Dumb question... How come you never see him in things about american history, but you always see columbus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Funny, here in the Scandinavian-settled northland, Leif Erikson is everywhere. The YMCA camp is named for him, eg. Maybe it is regional? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I dunno, that's where we started American History this year, with Leif and Eric the Red. Here's Leif Ericsson's statue in Boston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I think it depends on which curriculum you decide to use. Ours begins with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I think it may have to do with where most curricula divide their history cycles KWIM. Leif is much earlier than Columbus and may fall more into the time period before early American history. I do think he is important and I have seen curricula that include him with early American History. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12Stars Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Totally OT, my street name is Leif Ericson, and there so many ways it is spelled. Just a thought. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheryl in NM Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I went to elementary school in WI and we learned about him. I was helping my neighbor school her kids with MFW last year and I remember reading about him then too. I agree, though, he's not prevalent in US history. ETA: Here in NM, *our* US history starts with Cornado! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie75 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Sadly, I have never heard of him! I always remember starting with Columbus in school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 I used Beautiful Feet American History and Leif Ericson was the first book we read (the D'Aulaire book). I remember learning about him in elementary school in the 60s - I suppose it depends on your school, teacher, region, etc. He's certainly not forgotten around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Every American History book I've ever used starts with him. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Every American History book I've ever used starts with him. :001_huh: :iagree:, as have all my kids' public school American History courses. (Well, DS16 is taking APUSH this year, so we'll see about that one in a couple of weeks.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Totally OT, my street name is Leif Ericson, and there so many ways it is spelled. Just a thought. :D No kidding. I have no idea what the "correct" spelling of his name is. I used Beautiful Feet American History and Leif Ericson was the first book we read (the D'Aulaire book). I remember learning about him in elementary school in the 60s - I suppose it depends on your school, teacher, region, etc. He's certainly not forgotten around here. We just read this book yesterday and enjoyed it so much! I don't really remember learning about him in school (although I could have forgotten) but my thought is that since they didn't stay in America, maybe that is why we don't really put much focus on him. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Prentice Hall's America (our edition used in the late 90s): "In fact, Columbus was not even the first European to land in the Americas. Norse voyagers, led by Leif Ericson, claimed that distinction around 1000, when they set up a small, short-lived settlement on what is now Newfoundland." The sentences before and after that are all about Columbus. Ericson's name is on a timeline. The End. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeekingSimplicity Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 I never learned about him in school! I would never have know about him if it weren't for sponge bob. Is that sad or what? Our history started with Columbus discovering America (and my dad always saying Columbus didn't discover America, he landed somewhere around Cuba). And earlier when I kept trying to find things to help me with my American history timeline, everything started with Columbus or Native Americans... no Leif anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Dumb question... How come you never see him in things about american history, but you always see columbus? Possibly for the same reason that few people know St. Brendan the Navigator came to North America well before Leif Ericson came here ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) One other thought on it is that yes the Vikings Discovered North America before Columbus but much of Europe was unaware of this discovery. In fact many still thought the earth was flat and had no idea that there was other land out there. So in a sense Columbus opened up that area of discovery to most of Europe including England where many of the early Americans came from. Edited July 19, 2011 by twoxcell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Funny, here in the Scandinavian-settled northland, Leif Erikson is everywhere. The YMCA camp is named for him, eg. Maybe it is regional? We talk about him more in Canada, or at least here in Eastern Canada as well. We're also big a John Cabot. :) Columbus gets a mentioned much less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Possibly for the same reason that few people know St. Brendan the Navigator came to North America well before Leif Ericson came here ! I don't think it's the same reason. We have proof Of Leif's visit. There's none of St. Brendan's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 The curriculum we are using this year starts with him. Novel. I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 The two hs curriculum providers I have used start with Leif.... WinterPromise and TruthQuest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I don't think it's the same reason. We have proof Of Leif's visit. There's none of St. Brendan's. Differing viewpoints of that. We can let it go now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 One other thought on it is that yes the Vikings Discovered North America before Columbus but much of Europe was unaware of this discovery. In fact many still thought the earth was flat and had no idea that there was other land out there. So in a sense Columbus opened up that area of discovery to most of Europe including England where many of the early Americans came from. The bolded is not really true. http://www.bede.org.uk/flatearth.htm It is true that Columbus opened that part of the world to trade with and settlement by large numbers of Europeans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I think it depends on which curriculum you decide to use. Ours begins with him. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 The bolded is not really true. http://www.bede.org.uk/flatearth.htm It is true that Columbus opened that part of the world to trade with and settlement by large numbers of Europeans. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Winter Promise's American History 1 contains information about Leif. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I frequently see him mentioned in American history books. However, as far as history goes, his voyage was a dead end, as in very little or nothing of historical importance came from it. However, Columbus' voyage was a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) Well if they didn't think it was flat they were at least scared of traveling out into the sea. Thanks for the link by the way. Also from what I understood Columbus himself simply thought the world was smaller and had no idea that North and South America existed. Edited July 20, 2011 by twoxcell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeacherZee Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Totally OT, my street name is Leif Ericson, and there so many ways it is spelled. Just a thought. :D No kidding. I have no idea what the "correct" spelling of his name is. In Sweden we would spell it Leif Eriksson. But spelling in Swedish has changed so much that we don't know that that is how he spelled it (in all probability he didn't spell it at all) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I don't think it's the same reason. We have proof Of Leif's visit. There's none of St. Brendan's. Apparently Columbus has St Brendan's writings in his library. Those tell of his travels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Columbus's "discovery" had far more impact history than Ericson's did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Columbus's "discovery" had far more impact history than Ericson's did. Yep, genocide generally does make a bigger impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Yep, genocide generally does make a bigger impact. Whether there was "genocide" or not depends on your POV. Nevertheless, good or bad, Columbus set out for the purpose of discovering a new world, and he told people about it. Leif Ericson set out for a cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) Whether there was "genocide" or not depends on your POV. Nevertheless, good or bad, Columbus set out for the purpose of discovering a new world, and he told people about it. Leif Ericson set out for a cruise. To start with, there was no "discovery". He knew it was here. He wasn't the only one that knew. Edited: genocide may not have been the intent, but it's what happened. Has nothing to do with POV. Edited July 20, 2011 by mommaduck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I first learned about him on the "Where in time is Carmen SanDiago?" game (LOVED IT!) I think I may have learned about him in middle school after that, using PACE, but I can't remember if I ever heard about him in ps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I dunno, that's where we started American History this year, with Leif and Eric the Red. Here's Leif Ericsson's statue in Boston. Here's a timeline of Leif Erikson statues: :001_smile: http://www.leiferikson.org/Timeline.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelanieM Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) "In fact, Columbus was not even the first European to land in the Americas. Norse voyagers, led by Leif Ericson, claimed that distinction around 1000, when they set up a small, short-lived settlement on what is now Newfoundland." L’Anse au Meadows is now a wonderful tourist attraction. I'm looking forward to taking my kids when we visit NF in a couple years. (I visited as a teen.) Edited July 20, 2011 by MelanieM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 This is about the only thing I remember from school. We were learning about Columbus. I insisted that a Viking discovered America before he did. I was told I was wrong. I then proved it! I was then told that it didn't count, the reasons for it not counting included, "He didn't name it America", and "He was just exploring". :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 This is about the only thing I remember from school. We were learning about Columbus. I insisted that a Viking discovered America before he did. I was told I was wrong. I then proved it! I was then told that it didn't count, the reasons for it not counting included, "He didn't name it America", and "He was just exploring". :confused: Columbus didn't name it America. In fact originally he didn't even know where he was.:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Columbus didn't name it America. In fact originally he didn't even know where he was.:lol: I know that, (Since I was reading so much about it to prove my teacher wrong!) That what made her reasoning extra annoying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I know that, (Since I was reading so much about it to prove my teacher wrong!) That what made her reasoning extra annoying. I figured you did, just thought it was too ridiculous to go unmentioned.;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Columbus didn't name it America. In fact originally he didn't even know where he was.:lol: Two of my favorite t-shirts (I hope to eventually get): "In 1492, Natives discovered sailors lost at sea" "Fighting terrorism since 1492" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 "In 1492, Natives discovered sailors lost at sea" That would be the perfect name for a book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 That would be the perfect name for a book. I have this book and love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Differing viewpoints of that. We can let it go now. Now WAIT a minute!!! I should have said physical proof, there are intriguing written hints for both men. We have the viking settlement in Newfoundland after all. Is there physical proof of St. Brendan's visit? I'd love to know if there is or if there's something that might be. Don't take that as meaning I've contempt for the idea of St. Brenden's visit, just that I'm guessing that's why Leif gets the glory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Now WAIT a minute!!! I should have said physical proof, there are intriguing written hints for both men. We have the viking settlement in Newfoundland after all. Is there physical proof of St. Brendan's visit? I'd love to know if there is or if there's something that might be. Don't take that as meaning I've contempt for the idea of St. Brenden's visit, just that I'm guessing that's why Leif gets the glory. There are writings of St. Brenden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 There are writings of St. Brenden. That's sort of what I thought...But we don't have physical evidence that confirms that. Anyhow, You and Orthodox6 have intrigued me so I'm off to read about this matter moe. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 There are writings of St. Brenden. I have a book about him written by Jean Fritz. Doesn't that make it true?:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommaduck Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I have a book about him written by Jean Fritz. Doesn't that make it true?:D :lol: Well, I did mean BY him. But I figure if one does a comparison study of his writings to what we know was here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Now WAIT a minute!!! I should have said physical proof, there are intriguing written hints for both men. We have the viking settlement in Newfoundland after all. Is there physical proof of St. Brendan's visit? I'd love to know if there is or if there's something that might be. Don't take that as meaning I've contempt for the idea of St. Brenden's visit, just that I'm guessing that's why Leif gets the glory. I was not peeved, nor did I think you were. :) Just didn't want to wander down that trail. Here is one brief article: http://www.celticorthodoxchurch.com/inamerica.html The hosting website's organization is not one which I recommend. I just happened to remember that Fr. Alexey Young, from ROCOR, had written an article, and this webpage turned up when I searched for him. A longer article about St. Brendan is on a computer which scarcely turns on any more. I need to transfer over my documents before it becomes too late to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kertie Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Every American History book I've ever used starts with him. :001_huh: I went to public school here in WA and I never did hear about Leif Ericson in school. We learned about Columbus in first grade. My history education was ridiculously lacking. It horrifies me just thinking of it. Maybe regional, maybe whacked-out educational weirdness (yes, that's a technical term;))...who knows. If it's of any interest, I started K in '80. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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