If Columbus Never Lived: Who Would Have Crossed the Atlantic and When?

When we think about the discovery of the New World, Christopher Columbus often comes to mind as the pioneering figure who made the journey across the Atlantic. However, what would have happened if Columbus had never lived? Would another explorer have realized the potential to cross the Atlantic, and if so, who and when?

European Exploration Following Columbus

While Columbus made the monumental voyage in 1492, there were other European explorers and fishermen who were already making their way across the Atlantic just a few years later. In 1498, the English explorer John Cabot, also known as Giovanni Caboto, visited Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Meanwhile, Spanish and Portuguese explorers found their way to Brazil in 1500. This suggests that the discovery of the Americas around 1500 was likely inevitable, regardless of Columbus’s journey.

John Cabot: Another Pioneer

John Cabot, sponsored by King Henry VII of England, crossed the Atlantic in 1497, just five years after Columbus’s famous voyage. Unlike Columbus, who had explicit funding and support, Cabot’s decision to embark on this journey seems to have been driven more by the potential for discovery and economic gains. Some accounts suggest that Cabot may have found Basque fishermen off the coast of Canada, indicating the presence of other European explorers in the region.

Portuguese Exploration

Long before Columbus set sail, it was the Portuguese who were at the forefront of Atlantic exploration. The Portuguese established settlements in the Azores, which are just 2000 kilometers from the Americas, making them one of the earliest European explorations in the Western Hemisphere. By the time of Columbus's famous voyage, the Portuguese had already reached the Indian Ocean. The leadership of Prince Henry the Navigator played a crucial role in this exploration, sponsoring numerous expeditions and traders into unknown territories.

Basque Fishermen

Another theory suggests that Basque fishermen played a significant role in the discovery of the Americas. Historical evidence suggests that the Basque were already fishing off the coast of Nova Scotia in the 1520s. Some historians argue that their fishing activities might have even predated Columbus's voyages. The ability of the Basque people to sail vast distances, with some accounts mentioning voyages up to Spitsbergen, about 4000 kilometers away from their home, raises the possibility that they might have made it to the Americas on their own.

Conclusion

While Columbus’s voyage is often remembered as the first to cross the Atlantic, the evidence suggests that there were several other explorers and fishermen who would have eventually made the journey. John Cabot, Portuguese explorers, and Basque fishermen all played significant roles in the exploration and discovery of the Americas. Without Columbus, another explorer or group of explorers would have undoubtedly made this journey within a short timeframe, likely within a few years.