Everyone learns in school that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. Columbus occupies an exalted position in our history, honored with statues, place names and countless books and movies.

America wasn't named for Christopher Columbus (left), but for Amerigo Vespucci (right). (Image credit: Shutterstock) But letters from the Italian Vespucci (1459-1512) were far more popular.

“Muslims discovered America in 1178, not Christopher Columbus,” he said, according to the Daily Mail. “Contacts between Latin America and Islam date back to the 12th century.

It’s Columbus Day – a time when faulty lore about the “discoverer of America” abounds. ... 4. MYTH: Columbus discovered America. Oct. 10, 2011, 2:10 p.m. ET ...

Most of us were taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Yet it is far from clear cut. There are alternative theories about who got here first — some well-documented, others much ...

A Swede, an Irishman and an Italian were discussing the discovery of America. “Well, everybody knows Columbus discovered America in 1492,” said the Italian. “No,” said the Swede. “Leif ...

If Columbus discovered America, he himself didn't know. Until his death he claimed to have landed in Asia, even though most navigators knew he didn't. [Top 10 Intrepid Explorers] ...

They refused to be the “Indians” Columbus claimed to have discovered. They spoke Mixtec and Spanish fluently alongside Latin, dressed in Spanish fashions, constructed palaces and kept Mixtec ...