I'm quoting from an internet site...
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Controversial findings are pointing to the fact that the Portuguese and not the Spanish galleons of Christopher Columbus, discovered the United States of America.
If the findings of Dr. Manuel Luciano da Silva, Portuguese medical doctor and investigator, prove to be true, the history of America shall have to be rewritten. Dr. da Silva has lived in Rhode Island, U.S.A. for the last 40 years. He is presently presenting his theory in conferences (he has conducted over 300) throughout Portugal and America.
According to his extensive research the Portuguese found their way to the Americas prior to the 22nd of August 1424, a whopping 68 years before Columbus accidentally stumbled on the "New Land." History reveals that Columbus was the first European to set foot in the Americas. He was on his way to India and thought he had arrived via the East when in fact he "stumbled" on America on the 12th of October 1492. Dr. da Silva uses some very convincing arguments proving that contrary to popular belief, Columbus arrived over half a century too late to claim him as being the first.
Using a nautical map and scroll drawn up by Zuanne Pizzigano dated 1424, archaeological and toponimical proofs, Dr. da Silva elaborately contests history. The nautical map, a part of the James Bell Ford collection at the University of Minnesota, reveals the contours of the "Terra Nova" and "Nova Escocia" as well as several islands in the Caribbean sea. Several other places in Central America are easily identified.
Another convincing piece of evidence presented by Dr. da Silva is the Stone of Dighton discovered at the mouth of River Taunton in Massachusetts. Professor Edmund Delabarre of the Brown University identified many important inscriptions on this stone in 1918. The 40 ton stone bears the name, Miguel Corte Real, the date 1511, and the Portuguese coat of arms, as well the symbol of the Portuguese Order of Christ. This stone had been submerged by water for many years.
A final piece of evidence presented is a list of 92 names compiled by Canadian Reverend George Patterson. He states that the 92 names of places and people in Canada date back to Portuguese origins. Examples are: Bacalhao, Fogo, Minas, Ilha das Gamas, Portugal, Porto Novo, etc. In studies carried out among the ancient Indian tribes, they reveal that Portugal was indeed the first European presence in Canada, and several tribes attribute their name to the Portuguese national emblem.
Portugal now waits patiently for the cross examinations from those with the power to correct historical errors. Should this theory prove correct, Portugal becomes the uncontested master of the sea, the country with the richest navigational history, and the one that discovered more countries of the known world than any other nation.
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Why do i think this theory makes sense ? Because to me is odd that spain, a continental power, would suddenly decide to finance such a high risk event like columbus voyage, unless...they already knew that there was something there to be discovered.
Portugal had no choice but to explore the sea, at the time...spain is a different story, because spain already was a continental super power back then...they had much more to gain investing in european continental warfare and conquest than to spend their money sending ships and sailors to their deaths.
