(I) Columbus was not the first European to set foot on the American continents. (II) Viking sailors had reached and briefly settled present-day Newfoundland and perhaps New England around the year 1000. (III) But knowledge of these Viking landings had been forgotten throughout Europe for hundreds of years. (IV) It would not be right, therefore, to deny Columbus credit for his accomplishments. (V) In fact, Columbus brought back no Asian spices from his voyages.