America: Facts vs. Fiction Season 1 Episode 7 The New World

In episode 7 of season 1 of America: Facts vs. Fiction, titled "The New World," the show explores the myths and misconceptions surrounding the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The episode takes a look at what we were taught about Christopher Columbus in school versus the reality of what happened.

The episode starts by questioning the common belief that Columbus was the first person to discover America. The show takes us through the evidence suggesting that the Vikings reached the continent 500 years earlier, and explores why Columbus is still celebrated as the discoverer of the New World despite this fact.

The episode also delves into the myth that Columbus proved the world was round, and explains the misconceptions about the earth's shape that existed during Columbus's lifetime. The show provides historical context for this belief and explores how it became a legend that has persisted even today.

The episode then moves on to the question of Columbus's treatment of the indigenous populations he encountered in the Americas. The show dispels the myth of Columbus as a benevolent explorer who was well-meaning but misguided, and instead paints a picture of a complex and morally ambiguous historical figure who committed acts of violence and exploitation against the native peoples he encountered.

Throughout the episode, expert historians and scholars provide context and analysis of the events surrounding Columbus and the New World, and the show makes use of historical artifacts and documents to support its claims.

Overall, "The New World" is a fascinating and informative episode of America: Facts vs. Fiction that challenges commonly held beliefs about Columbus and the discovery of America. It provides valuable historical context and sheds light on the myths and misconceptions that have persisted around this historical event.