Who first discovered America?

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Recently, the reporter learned from the relevant departments that the newly unearthed pottery tablets, stone anchors and paddles engraved with the Book of Changes from America show that China residents began to immigrate to America as early as 7,000 years ago during the Banpo clan period. So, who first discovered the new continent?

Professor Feng Xiuwen, an archaeologist, told reporters that before Columbus, more than ten expeditions had gone to America. 4640 years ago, Shihe crossed the Pacific Ocean to America. 3400 years ago, Shang Zhouwang's army was stationed on the conquered side (now Shandong Province). When the Shang Dynasty perished, a large number of Yin people fled to America (about 200,000 people). 2,400 years ago, Indian missionaries arrived in America. Faxian monks in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Hui Shen monks in the Southern Qi Dynasty all visited America. Irish, Norwegians, Icelanders, Welsh, Malians, Danes and Portuguese who were closer to Columbus also arrived in America before Columbus.

So, why didn't these discoveries stir the world like Columbus did?

■ The discovery of Columbus changed the historical destiny of America.

1982, at the United Nations General Assembly, 36 countries, including Italy and some Latin American countries, jointly requested the United Nations to hold a grand commemorative meeting on 1992+00+ 1. This proposal was strongly opposed by Ireland and Iceland. How to understand their "reasonable" opposition? Why didn't China respond? Besides, China discovered it before Ireland and Iceland.

Professor Feng Xiuwen explained that they did not admit that Columbus discovered America for the first time because their position and starting point were different from ours. They want to compete for fame and gain and improve their historical position. We should not only maintain a rigorous scientific attitude, but also maintain an excellent scientific style.

Professor Feng Xiuwen told reporters: It has existed for a long time before Columbus and the discovery of America, and there are many controversies. In a narrow sense, Columbus was not the first person to discover America, but in a broad sense, we should correctly understand the meaning of Columbus being the first person to discover America. We believe that his discovery of America opened a new era in human history, and his discovery caused changes in human history. It has social and historical significance and changed the historical destiny of the United States, so it can be called a great historical discovery.

■ How did Columbus become a "discoverer"

Some countries have had exchanges and trade activities with American Indians for a long time, which means that Columbus is just a "big melon at the end of a vine". How can he forget his ancestors after counting the classics? In addition, other countries did not enslave and slaughter Indians. According to this, Columbus was just a butcher and a robber. How can you give him such a big evaluation and title?

Professor Jin Jichu explained that although some countries have been trading with the United States for a long time, they have not publicized it and played a certain historical role. This can only be regarded as a historical event and accidental discovery, which has not attracted enough attention and is meaningless. On the contrary, the historical significance of Columbus is very significant. From the perspective of globalization, he integrated the eastern hemisphere and the western hemisphere into a big family; From an economic point of view, he found a broad market and raw material producing area; From the geographical point of view, he and his subsequent voyages proved that the earth is round. Only by combining these three aspects can we evaluate Columbus more accurately. If Columbus is a butcher and a robber, it is not an exaggeration, because his quality is like that, but he still has more advantages than ever before. Of course, it is glorious to be the first, but you must have capital, which is not won casually.

■ Is Columbus "Hitler"

This year, 65438+10.8 is a national holiday designated by the US Congress-"Columbus Day". On that day, schools and many government agencies had a day off. On the 6th, Italian residents living in Denver, Colorado held a parade to commemorate Columbus Day, which caused strong dissatisfaction among American Indian descendants. They put up a sign that said, "You are celebrating our suffering", and others said, "Can you imagine letting Jews accept a Hitler Day? Or do African Americans accept this festival? The myth of Columbus has long since ended. " Why do Indians hate Columbus so much? After all, they have multiplied for countless generations. Why does hatred accumulate? How to understand this social phenomenon?

Professor Feng Xiuwen explained that Columbus did enslave and slaughter many Indians, and this behavior of Indian descendants is subjectively understandable because it is human nature. For example, in China, whoever invades and oppresses us will be remembered by our ancestors and predecessors and will never be forgotten. However, from the analysis method of Marxist national oppression, Columbus's objective role is undeniable.

Professor Jin Jichu also explained that this is indeed the history of blood and tears of Indians, but every step of history has to pay a considerable price, which is precisely the true portrayal of "a success will last forever."

■ What is the significance of studying the early American immigrants to China?

Professor Jin Jichu believes that we should continue to study, after all, our evidence is not sufficient. Further study on this point may make a new breakthrough in our understanding of Shan Hai Jing and the ancient history of China. For example, in many inscriptions unearthed in Mexico, some people are similar to the big stone statues of the Ming Tombs in Nanjing, China. There is also a chinemys reevesii, which is eight feet tall and weighs more than twenty tons. There are many hieroglyphs engraved on it. These findings will be of great value to the study of the ancient history of China. For example, some scholars believe that Shan Hai Jing is not a myth, but the oldest geography book in China and the oldest global geography book.

On the other hand, we should try our best to preserve and study our cultural heritage and not be preempted by foreign countries. For example, one document said that as early as 176 1 year, there was a scholar named Jin Le, who might be French. According to Liang Shu's records, he pointed out that the Fusang country in the book is Mexico in America today, and China was the first person to discover the new continent. 1872, another scholar named Weining fully supported Jin Le's idea. In 190 1, Faurel, a professor at the University of California, also published a paper and put forward the same idea as Weining. But this view failed to spread.

In short, different people have different ideas. China people have China's ideas, Americans have American ideas, Irish people have Irish ideas, and Indians have Indian ideas. It depends on what attitude you take towards it and know it.

■ Background information

Columbus (145 1- 1506) was born in a wool family in Genoa. Italian navigator and the first colonial predator to reach America. The voyage began at 1473. 1476 went to live in Portugal, and proposed to the Portuguese king to sail west and explore the sea road to the east, but he was rejected. 1485 moved to Spain. With the support of Spanish King Isabella and Petinan,1In August, 492, Columbus set out from Barros Port with three sailboats and 90 sailors, and went to Emperor China with the king's credentials.

His discovery of America laid the foundation for Spain's plunder. 1504, I was seriously ill after my fourth voyage back to Spain. 1506, he died in Faraday. It can be said that this definition does not clearly express Columbus's historical achievements, giving people a vague understanding. On the contrary, the description of his negative side is many and clear, so it is not very scientific. Including some other dictionaries, there are many shortcomings and deficiencies, which reflect that our understanding of Columbus is biased and should be corrected. However, some dictionaries published by some foreign publishing houses have more loopholes. For example, the Encyclopedia of World Geography published by Geilke Book Company in the United States almost only introduces Columbus's life in detail, and gives him the highest evaluation: "He is the discoverer of the American continent, and his importance is no less than the road to get rich in China and India", not to mention Columbus's history of Indian blood and tears. It can be seen that many people have different views, so we must use our own eyes to understand and identify history.

Beijing Youth Daily February 20, 2000 +65438