The terms "New World," and "discovery" are used often when describing this Age of Exploration era. Why might these terms not be the most appropriate words to use? For example, was the New World really new? Are there any terms you can think of that may be more appropriate?

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Elijah Roberts

History

5 February, 20:14

The terms "New World," and "discovery" are used often when describing this Age of Exploration era. Why might these terms not be the most appropriate words to use? For example, was the New World really new? Are there any terms you can think of that may be more appropriate?

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Jasper Barrett · Answer 1

These terms may not have been the most appropriate because people, specifically Indians who discovered what we call America (we know them as American Indians/Native Americans). It was not a "New World" or "discovery" to anyone besides Christopher Columbus and his followers; people already knew about it. A term that may fit what he found better is "learning" or "exploration", but it is important to recognize that he did not find America himself.