Who Was First?: Discovering the Americas

by Russell Freedman

Many generations of American schoolchildren were taught that Columbus discovered America, and a holiday reminds us every October. But historical investigation in recent years has shown us otherwise. There is evidence that adventurers, explorers, traders, and nomads from various parts of the globe set foot on American soil long before 1492. And expeditions that landed in the Americas reported people already living there—indicating that America had been “discovered” before.
Russell Freedman brings his legendary skills as researcher and storyteller to this fresh and intriguing look at the American past. Colorful legends and first-person accounts are woven into the riveting narrative, which also illuminates the way historians and mapmakers have gathered, evaluated, and recorded information throughout the ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, Juvenile, Childrens, Middle Grade, Audiobook

96 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2007

About the author

Russell A. Freedman was an American biographer and the author of nearly 50 books for young people. He may be known best for winning the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography.

He grew up in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, and then worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as a publicity writer. His nonfiction books ranged in subject from the lives and behaviors of animals to people in history. Freeedman's work has earned him several awards, including a Newbery Honor each for Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery in 1994 and The Wright Brothers: How They Invented the Airplane in 1992, and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal.

Freedman traveled extensively throughout the world to gather information and inspiration for his books. His book, Confucius: The Golden Rule was inspired by his extensive travels through Mainland China, where he visited Confucius' hometown in modern day QuFu, in the Shantung Province.

Reviews

[Akemi G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In recent years, the idea that Christopher Columbus discovered America, or was the first non-indigenous people to reach this continent or the nearby island, has been challenged. This book offers neat overview, and I highly recommend it both to adults and children.

It covers, in addition to Columbus' story,
* China: Although Zheng He, who journeyed and patrolled the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in the early 1400s, probably didn't venture out beyond the southern tip of Africa, the book introduces other, earlier, possibilities.
* The Nose: Anne Stine and Helge Ingstad's story of finding and excavating the remains left by Leif the Lucky reminds me of another discoveries by lay history enthusiast, Heinrich Schliemann, who dug for ancient Greek sites.
* And where did the "indigenous" Americans come from originally?
This section demystifies the still common notion that the first people came through the Beringa Land Bridge, on foot, chasing mammoths. No, Americas were inhabited long before that was possible; the first residents came by boat.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book while looking for YA material for my tutoring student, after we'd delved into Columbus and other European explorers circa 15th century.

Call me a lazy reader, but I often prefer to read a YA skinny about this or that topic I'm curious about, rather than picking up a dry, sparsely illustrated thick tome that gives me absolutely no inspiration to get through the material.

I found this one to be written for readers, not researchers, with descriptive story-like narrative and really interesting images, ranging from medieval lithographs to early magazine illustrations and more modern photographs. In about an hour, I've learned about the early peoples of North and South Americas and the Europeans (Chinese? Africans? this be the controversy) who came across them for the first time.

Here's a little tidbit I feel the richer for knowing:

p. 61 - "On the east coast of N. America, European explorers and settlers were fascinated by the Indians' democratic traditions and by their insistence on personal liberty and social equality. ... Every member of a village was considered equal to everyone else; no one had the right to deprive others of their freedom. ... The [Iroquois] Confederacy was governed by a constitution, the Great Law of Peace, kept in memory and passed through oral tradition from one generation to the next. According to the Great Law, leaders of the allied nations, meeting as the Great Council, had to submit important matters to a decision of all their people. Decisions were reached through a process of consensus -- in a kind of referendum open to both men and women."

It goes on to say that Benjamin Franklin met some of these these council members and drew from their system when creating the American Constitution.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freedman begins with the story of Christopher Columbus, who we now know was actually one of the last explorers to “discover” the Americas. Next he introduces the famed Chinese explorer Zheng He, followed by the Viking Leif Eriksson, all these explorers may have “discovered” parts of the Americas, yet it is clear that there have been native peoples on the Americas’ soils for much, much longer. Freedman leads the reader through these famed stories of discovery, then he leads into various histories and theories about the many native cultures we now know once lived in various parts of the Americas. Many of these groups’ ancestries remain mysteries to the day, however, new discoveries are being made all the time which bring about new information which leads to a better understanding of where these peoples came from and how they colonized the Americas for as long as 50,000 years ago. This book was a fascinating and visually appealing read; nearly every page included an accompanying image that corresponded with the content being discussed. The images are well-placed and well-chosen, and most importantly they add to the reader’s understanding of the topics being discussed. Who Was First? covers a vast topic in a short amount of pages, young readers should find the information easily comprehensible, insightful, and interesting.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russell Freedman always does an excellent job making the topics he writes about accessible to his audience. In Who Was First?, Freedman tackles the discovering of America. Children in schools are taught that Christopher Columbus first discovered America in 1492; however, it turns out this is incorrect. There were many people who came to the Americas long before Columbus. The Chinese may have visited the continent centuries before. The Norse explorers led by Leif Erikson came here from Greenland. There might have also been explorers from Africa here long before Columbus. Then there were the people that came overland from Asia through the Bering Strait. Freedman explores all of these possibilities and leaves the reader wanting to learn more about the individual explorers. I listened to this book and while it was excellent I do feel like I might have missed out on some of the wonderful images Freedman included in the book. Luckily I was able to thumb through the book as well. Great resource for those interested in this part of our history.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a silly question. Content is more J than YA. Plus, although the author's goal is to unlock mysteries and dispell false stories, he's chosen to illustrate the book with lots of 19th century engravings. Probably cheaper than commissioning original art or looking for non-open-source images, but still -- the 19th century is not the place to go for non-false stories.

[Jen Traub · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice introduction to the early americas! It covers Columbus, the Chinese, and Lief Erickson before jumping into the native peoples. I wish it included more on the existing cultures and a longer last chapter on how old the ‘new world’ really was, but all in all, it’s a strong intro for intermediate or middle school kids.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 3 out of 5]

No, Columbus didn't discover America, but the answer to who did is actually quite complicated. Was it the Vikings, the Chinese, or somebody else? Contains info on the early Americans, too, including the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas.

holiday #bookaday

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any book by Freedman is superb. I removed a star judging on the basis of Freedman’s other work. He has done a few better books. I think two of the greatest values of this book is letting youth understand that history is not set in stone: that historians can go back and change our study of history based on the facts. Freedman gave a fair amount of space to a “self trained historian” (I do wish he had explained his phrase choice to readers) who maintains the Chinese may have “discovered” the American continents. He ultimately makes it clear that mainstream historians do not feel this has been proven, and why. He also showed that Viking claims to discover the continents have been proven and while not explicitly explaining the difference, gave readers enough information to clearly see the difference. That is a valuable lesson in how to determine facts and their pertinence to a subject. The other important value this book presents is that history is rarely so simple as a verse may make it sound. I grew up learning that in “1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…”. Strictly speaking, that sentence is true. However, in those days we celebrated Columbus Day with no doubt that it was an important holiday and got the day off from school. It turns out there was much much more to the story than the verse claims. If you think a single verse can sum up history, this book shows otherwise!

This is an excellent book on who discovered America, making it clear that there is still much to be learned on the subject! Highly recommended!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting 2-hour audiobook.

Apparently, the Vikings were the first Europeans to "discover" America around Newfoundland where they settled but were driven out by the natives.

South America was populated long before the Bering Strait was a passable land bridge, perhaps by boat from Siberia along the coast, or by Polynesians across the Pacific--not so far fetched since they populated a lot of distant islands throughout the Pacific.

And then there are the African faces on the Olmec heads long before any Europeans arrived.

The history of the Americas is much more interesting than is taught in school.

Recommended!

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Was First, by Russell Freedman, was a fascinating read. It's the true story of who discovered the Americas before Christopher Columbus. Freedman digs into the subject of archaeology and scientific evidence to reveal that many people reached the Americas long before Columbus. This book is an informational book and covers many facts and evidence. It is meant for all types of readers; however, readers interested in archaeology should definitely read this! I loved how the author uses so much evidence to back up his claims, and that really makes it a mystery who could've discovered the Americas first. I rate this 5/5

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the various explorers who landed in North, Central and South America, covering not only Columbus and Leif Erickson, but others. It even includes the theories of one amateur historian who believes the Chinese may have visited and left their mark on early maps of the continent, although he seems to be mostly alone in his conviction.
Interesting enough on its own, but it made me want to read more about the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. I didn't learn much about those civilizations when I was in school, and I need more information.

[Brittany]

A great introduction to the knowledge that though Columbus was the first European to connect the hemispheres in a lasting way, he was by no means the first person in the Americas. Fascinating archeological mysteries suggest that the Vikings, and even the Chinese, may have spent considerable time in the Americas long before the fifteenth century. Furthermore, we can only guess at how people groups had already made their way here and established civilization even before that. I enjoyed reading this with my kids and appreciated the helpful maps throughout. A great resource to read again.

[Yibbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a quick introduction to known histories and major theories about the discovery of America, it was surprisingly thorough. I really liked the way that he treated all characters and theories with respect. It’s been fashionable to hate on Columbus lately, but this author treats him as any historian should, by honestly presenting his faults and virtues. If you are curious about the discovery of America, this would be a good book to start with.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

2007 Cybils Middle Grade and YA Nonfiction

This was an interesting book looking at the various ideas about when and which people arrived in America, from the Chinese to the Vikings to Europeans and to the first settlers, showing how these ideas are tested and which are likely and why no one knows for certain. It does a good job both challenging widely held ideas about America and showing the difficulty of interpreting both history and anthropology.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are 5 chapters over about 80 pages with plenty of photos, drawings, and maps. I found the last 2 chapters the most interesting because it was about the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. Each civilization detailed had archaeological evidence to support the claims. The first 3 chapters were about early European and Asian explorers.

[Jquick99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Artifacts (human poo, extinct camel bones...) have been found in the Paisley Caves (South, Central Oregon) dating back 14,400 years ago. Nearly 1,000 years BEFORE anything found at Clovis.

Why isn’t this mentioned?

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran out of audio books to listen to so I borrowed this book. It was a lot more interesting than I had expected. Being Swedish I heard stories of the vikings including Leif Eriksson when I went to school.

This will be a book I will recommend to my grandsons when they get a bit older.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book indicates all the people that may have found America before Columbus. There is interesting insight to be considered. The biggest difference between them and Columbus, is that he claimed it. So, although interesting, you can't change history--just your version of it.

[Suzi]

Outstanding discoveries about who discovered the Americans and when and from where. Simple but descriptive history including controversies. What struck me most was the termites which devoured two of Columbus' ships on later voyages.

[Saundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this type of book! I was especially interested in the chapter on Chinese exploration.

[Landyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best I've read this year. This book had tons of knowledge of the past and overall it was a great non-fiction book.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a fun review of people that came to the America’s.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books I think would have been better in print.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. CathyR

[Kevin Koppelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, I like the question asked. I found it interesting to consider our form of govt. came from the natives united groups of individual tribes.

[Jerri Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Junior Book – Informational

2. Russell Freedman takes the history of the discovery of the Americas and compiles these facts all into one cover.

3. a. Text
b. I truly enjoyed this book myself although it was a lot of information to take in. There was actually quite a bit of information in it that I didn’t know! I feel as though it provides a wealth of information and for even younger adults in my opinion it may even be too much. This book may have been better served broken down into a series, each book containing a different group.
c. Example: This book contains accounts of voyages made or possibly made by such groups as Columbus and the Spaniards, the Chinese, the Vikings, Native Americans, and Clovis hunters. Each chapter is about 10 to 20 pages and contains an unbelievable amount of information proven and speculation. I also believe that because of the amount of information it contains it may not capture and keep a reader’s attention. Here is an excerpt from page 77 of this book that exemplifies my reason behind the book being too informational and wordy. If the earliest Americans didn’t travel down an ice-free corridor, then how did they get here? Many researchers now believe that prehistoric migrants from Asia may have followed a sea route along the Pacific coast, perhaps in skin-covered boats similar to those used today by the Inuit, native peoples of the arctic. Hunting for seals, walruses, and other sea mammals, steering clear of glaciers and icebergs, early immigrants could have paddled along the southern edge of the Bering land bridge, then voyaged down the coast of Alaska, gradually advancing farther and farther south as each new generation staked out fresh hunting grounds a few miles beyond the last. Eventually, they reached the beaches of Central and South America, and finally, over many centuries, they arrived at Monte Verde. Meanwhile, their ancestors along the pacific Coast had started to move inland, in the north becoming, perhaps, the Clovis people.”
4. This would definitely not be a read aloud in my classroom. I do not think that it would hold a younger grade level’s attention. I am not even sure that it would be good for middle school students. While the text does not seem characteristically difficult, it is just a lot of information. I would probably use this in an explorer unit when I discuss Christopher Columbus as a read aloud. I may even use it to have students work in groups to complete a project about the different groups discussed in this book. They would be only assigned one.

[James Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

This can be an interesting book for those who have not already read a lot about the subject but otherwise it's really an introductory book to the subject. It starts out with Columbus' landing in the Americas including his kidnapping of natives, using some as slaves, taking gold and giving the 'gift' of venereal diseases to the natives.

The book then goes on to the possible 1421 landing of Chinese mariners in the San Francisco area for which there is some evidence but not a whole lot. There was also a possibility of a landing of Buddhist monks in the Americas. It then discusses the Viking landing in the Americas for which there is overwhelming evidence. This would have been around the year 1000 CE.

The book also points out that, despite the claim of Columbus to be the first here, people crossed over from Siberia (and possibly came across the Pacific Ocean) tens of thousands of years before Columbus, possibly as much as 50,000 years before him. These people became the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztec and Incan peoples along with the Clovis peoples, the Mound Buildings and scores of other groups. The book also points out the possibility of Africans having gotten to South America (for which Olmec monuments/statues/carved heads are realities.

The book does not cover the (admittedly controversial) possibility of visitors from Phoenicia, Egypt, the Knights Templar and others.

The book does point out how advanced many of these cultures were, particularly in the construction of their cities. Just because they were not descended from Europeans does not mean that they were stupid.


Oh, yes, another gift from the European explores was a number of diseases, including smallpox, which became very effective bio-weapons in eliminating much of the indigenous population.

[Sam Burrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who Was First? by Russell Freedman is a very interesting book that compels you to think that the Chinese, the Vikings, and people from other cultures were the first to discover America, when in fact it was the little known Clovises. The facts, evidence, and stories that are presented by Freedman are so convincing, that is proved that the Clovises were truly the first to discover America.

Who Was First? contradicts earlier learning about Christopher Columbus and his crew being the first to discover the Americas in 1492. The book starts out with information on Christopher Columbus's journey, but then disproves his finding the America's first. Columbus found parts of South America that were already inhabited by Native Americans for over a few hundred years.

The Vikings were known to embark to find any island or body of land they had not already seen or heard of before. They would then conquer and inhabit the new land. They left after they got "bored", scattered some artifacts, and embarked on a new journey to find somewhere else. They left multiple still-standing artifacts and structures from Nova Scotia down to the North-East. One of the most notable, best built structures from the Vikings is still intact in Newport, Rhode Island. This structure confused archaeologists and historians to believe that the Chinese settled in North-America because the structure had a Chinese-like interface.

The Clovises were the first to settle in America. Archaeologists dug down many layers of the ground to where the noted dates of discoveries of other cultures were found. Clovis artifacts and items with depicted scenes on themtold the whole story of who really was first.

I really enjoyed this book because it had illustrations and pictures of the artifacts that were found throughout history, and explained who was really first to settle in America in a deceiving, educational way.
This is a 4/5 star book because by the title and cover, you wouldn't expect it to be as great and interesting of a book as it really is.

[Justice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the history of America and how it was founded. The book tells stories of Viking runes, Chinese legends, Mayan stonework and, mysterious objects found in various parts of the world that lead to question who actually discovered America first.

Circular Connections: I would have students write a 3-4-page research paper about the first comers to America. Students will be required to have 5 references from books, articles, and online sources. One of the references must come from this book. Students will write the paper and turn in for a major grade.

§113.18. Social Studies, Grade 6, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012.
(8) Students identify and discuss how the actions of U.S. citizens and the local, state, and federal governments have either met or failed to meet the ideals espoused in the founding documents.

(b) Knowledge and skills.

(1) History. The student understands that historical events influence contemporary events. The student is expected to:

(A) trace characteristics of various contemporary societies in regions that resulted from historical events or factors such as invasion, conquests, colonization, immigration, and trade; and

(B) analyze the historical background of various contemporary societies to evaluate relationships between past conflicts and current conditions.

(2) History. The student understands the influences of individuals and groups from various cultures on various historical and contemporary societies. The student is expected to:

(A) identify and describe the influence of individual or group achievements on various historical or contemporary societies such as the classical Greeks on government and the American Revolution on the French Revolution; and

(B) evaluate the social, political, economic, and cultural contributions of individuals and groups from various societies, past, and present.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives honest accounts of the exploration of America. It also covers the civilizations that were already present in the Americas prior to the explorers’ arrivals.
This book is interesting, and I learned some new things regarding the explorers. The information regarding the ancient civilizations of the Americas was very interesting. The book explains why the “land bridge” theory of migration is incorrect.

Favorite Quotes:
“All along, of course, the two continents we now call North and South America had already been ‘discovered.’ Before European sailors arrived, the Americas were home to tens of millions of native peoples.” p. vii

“By some estimates, more people were living in the Americas when Columbus sailed than lived in all of Europe. The central Mexican plateau, heartland of the Aztec empire, may have contained as many as 25 million people, compared to fewer than 10 million living in Spain and Portugal. That would have made Mexico the most densely populated place on Earth at the time, with more people per square mile than China or India.” p. 57