Pre-Columbian exploration of New World?

This one Is in three parts.

1. Is it plausible that the Portuguese explored parts of the New World decades before Columbus survived his expedition in 1492?

2. If so what would be the earliest date Europe might be made aware of it?

3. Had the Vivaldi brothers made a one-way trip to the New World in 1292 or so what impact might that have on the native populations especially if they had two centuries to recover afterwards before more Europeans arrive?
 
umm its fairly well documented that the basque knew of and sailed to the grand banks and newfoundland labrador before columbus. The portugese no (though there were portugese explorers in the area around the time of columbus). Umm but (and others can correct me in this ) pre-columbian is usually not used in reference to the portuguse explorations.
 
umm its fairly well documented that the basque knew of and sailed to the grand banks and newfoundland labrador before columbus. The portugese no (though there were portugese explorers in the area around the time of columbus). Umm but (and others can correct me in this ) pre-columbian is usually not used in reference to the portuguse explorations.

The Portuguese rolled over on some specific negotiations on the Treaty of Tordesillas and pushed the boundary back to a specific line, almost as if they suspected or knew a landmass existed there. Also the 'Antilla' island and 'Satanxander' islands on so many maps starting a century before bear a striking resemblance to Cuba and Hispanola if turned at 90 degrees.
 
Don't forget the Vikings colonised Greenland, and complained about ambushes by natives on the coast further South, aka Vinland.

Now, 'tis hard to believe the Vikings, of all people, would back off, but they did...
 
This one Is in three parts.

1. Is it plausible that the Portuguese explored parts of the New World decades before Columbus survived his expedition in 1492?

2. If so what would be the earliest date Europe might be made aware of it?

3. Had the Vivaldi brothers made a one-way trip to the New World in 1292 or so what impact might that have on the native populations especially if they had two centuries to recover afterwards before more Europeans arrive?

Out of all these possibilties, the earlier portuguese exploration is more likely. Portugal had been exploring the atlantic for 80 years by the time of columbus voyage. Going west just wasn't their objective. All it takes is someone eager to explore the currents west of Cape Verde, or someone to sail further from the azores.

However, in spite of all possibilities, finding the Americas was much more a byproduct of trying to find a way to india than anything else. You'd probably need a king or an explorer who believes in the possibility of finding the indies by sailing west. The portuguese believed the ocean was too large to cross in one trip, but someone could try to find land to ressuply, thus turning the expedition into something achievable.
 
However, in spite of all possibilities, finding the Americas was much more a byproduct of trying to find a way to india than anything else.
Mostly true iOTL, not necessarily true at all.
You'd probably need a king or an explorer who believes in the possibility of finding the indies by sailing west. The portuguese believed the ocean was too large to cross in one trip, but someone could try to find land to ressuply, thus turning the expedition into something achievable.
And this is false, completely.

1) there's the northern route. As pointed out by others, it's entirely possible that e.g. Basque fishermen were already fishing the Grand Banks, knew about the New World, and were just keeping quiet about it.

2) there's the southern route. The Portuguese, in heading south around Africa sailed well out into the Atlantic for better winds/currents. It's surprising that it took as long as it did for someone to be blown off course and hit Brazil. Or, as others have pointed out, they may have and just kept quiet about that. So, here it IS the result of the Indies trade, but NOT by going West on purpose.
 
I suspect that European fishermen discovered North America as they sailed farther and father out in the Atlantic in search of fish ..... inshore European fisheries having been depleted by over-fishing. (Northern Spanish and Southwestern France) Basque fishermen and whalers left plenty of archeological evidence along the northern coast of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. There is even a modern town called Port au Basques in Newfoundland. Basques enjoyed advantages with their unique language and family ties, helping them keep their new fishing grounds a mystery to the rest of Europe.
 
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