Why do the textbooks say that Columbus found America even though he didn't?

Answer 1

Older textbooks use to say this, but the updated modern ones now do not. There are a number of things in history that have been changed due to myth and misunderstanding of history. If you look at an old history book in the map section you will see that the maps shows North American and Europe larger than Africa, but in reality Africa is larger than both. This is one way history was manipulated and a view of the world is presented. Thus, it is the same with information like Columbus.

Answer 2

The textbooks refer to Christopher Columbus as "discovering" America because his arrival marked the beginning of sustained contact between Europe and the Americas, leading to significant historical consequences such as colonization and the Columbian Exchange. However, it is important to recognize that indigenous peoples were already living in the Americas for thousands of years before Columbus' arrival.