Christopher Columbus vs Leif Erikson
Who? Pick one and see how the world splits.
- Christopher Columbus Italy · 1451–1506 68% · #10 in the world
- Leif Erikson Iceland · 972–1020 32% · #137 in the world
What the votes say
A clear win: the world picks Christopher Columbus over Leif Erikson, 68% to 32%. Christopher Columbus is #10 of the 185 thinkers in the world ranking, and #3 of the 13 from Italy. Leif Erikson is #137.
The case for each
Christopher Columbus: The Genoese navigator whose voyage for Spain in 1492 reached the Caribbean and began lasting contact between Europe and the Americas.
Leif Erikson: The Norse explorer who reached North America around the year 1000, landing in a place the sagas call Vinland, nearly five centuries before Columbus.
Side by side
| Christopher Columbus | Leif Erikson | |
|---|---|---|
| World rank | #10 | #137 |
| Country | Italy | Iceland |
| Lived | 1451–1506 | 972–1020 |