The American Discovery of Europe

by Jack D. Forbes

The American Discovery of Europe investigates the voyages of America's Native peoples to the European continent before Columbus's 1492 arrival in the "New World." The product of over twenty years of exhaustive research in libraries throughout Europe and the United States, the book paints a clear picture of the diverse and complex societies that constituted the Americas before 1492 and reveals the surprising Native American involvements in maritime trade and exploration. Starting with an encounter by Columbus himself with mysterious people who had apparently been carried across the Atlantic on favorable currents, Jack D. Forbes proceeds to explore the seagoing expertise of early Americans, theories of ancient migrations, the evidence for human origins in the Americas, and other early visitors coming from Europe to America, including the Norse. The provocative, extensively documented, and heartfelt conclusions of The American Discovery of Europe present an open challenge to received historical wisdom.

Genres: History, Indigenous, Nonfiction, Native American History

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 16, 2007

About the author

Jack D. Forbes was a Native-American writer, scholar and political activist. He is best known for his book, Columbus and Other Cannibals, which has become a primary text of the Anti-civilization Movement.

Reviews

[Zack Walters · Rating 3 out of 5]

The material in this book is mind blowing. The author has a kind of meandering writing style that doesn’t jive with me, but I made it thru because the content was well researched and the proof in the pudding is compelling, and it changes everything you’ve ever heard about the history of mankind. Material: 5 stars writing of said material: 2 landing on a 3. Nobody will read it but they should!

[Frank · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not entirely too impressed with this book. I was extremely interested in the topic but the author was not able to hook my interest to continue reading. In the first chapter, Forbes uses one annotation in one book that was owned by Christopher Columbus to prove the arrival of American natives in Ireland in 1473. Although I don't doubt the ability of American natives traveling across the Atlantic or to other parts of the globe, I am disappointed in the author's lack of evidence provided. The first chapter is supported only by Columbus' annotation - there must be more written evidence out there. I'm sure he mentioned in later chapters, I just couldn't get there.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting but very speculative book exploring possible american visits to europe prior to 1492. some of the anecdotal accounts from european sources that he's uncovered are genuinely very interesting and suggestive, but it often feels like he's inferring more from them than is really possible. occasionally his hope that americans reached europe seems to be stronger than the actual evidence for that happening. does have some really cool info on seafaring technology among native americans though. oddly he hardly mentions the possibility of contact across the bering strait, perhaps because of a lack of sources? there's also some strange references to racial types or characteristics at times which felt both antiquated and contradictory, since he explicitly notes at one point that native americans varied so much in their appearance across different areas and groups that you simply cannot generalise about them.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of fascinating information about American natives traveling to Europe across the reaches of prehistory and history. I myself would have preferred a good long article without the excrutiating detail, geared to the layperson.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forbes presents American travel to Europe via their sea skills. Using Colon's annotations he deconstructs the common thought that Europe discovered American. While at times I was seeking more references from the author, he does present interesting arguments. Most interesting was the emphasis that the traditions about mer-people could be descriptions of peoples in kayaks. While Forbes does address several 'traditions' from both Native and European origins, it would have been even more interesting to elaborate upon the Native 'traditions' that retell their travels and visits with Europe and Europeans.

[Jeff Brailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Americans discovered the Old World before Columbus, or probably before Leif Erickson, according to Forbes. He presents a great case and convinced me. A little too dry to be read for entertainment, which basically was my reason to read it, but a wonderful resource for the Pre-Columbian history buff

[Ralphe Wiggins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dropped book as too detailed a tracing of history for my taste.