WI: Majapahit discovers America

What about the Majapahit discovering the Aztecs while trading with Satsuma and Ryukyu, due to one of the ships that drifted to America while trading with Japan and Okinawa returned to Java..

What would be the Use of knowing the land, I think Majapahit might import corn and potatoes and Luzon would be a very important province to Majapahit..due to the trade they started..I think the Ming or Yuan might hijack this..
 
I doubt strongly that any Majapahit or any else Asian ship could reach Americas. Sea currents and winds not do that possible and it is too long trip. And what would be point to go beyond the sea when they couldn't be sure what there is or is there anything? But even if some Majapahit ship accidentally ends to Americas, it hardly can return anymore and even if it does that probably they don't see colonisation or trade being worth of dangerous sea travel.
 
Here's a map of the Pacific Ocean.

gyres1.png


I think you'd need to have Majapahit at least control New Zealand and Australia before reaching the Americas as the South Pacific Gyre seems to be better at travelling to the Americas than the Northern Pacific Gyre. Now, at this point, the Polynesians hadn't settled New Zealand yet, so it's pretty ripe for settlement at this point. It could then be used in order to travel to South America, where Majapahit could probably reach the Inca Empire.
 
Rather than going south, the equitorial currents and counter currents seem to be more useful, and have island stops along the way.
 
Rather than going south, the equitorial currents and counter currents seem to be more useful, and have island stops along the way.

I think that Equarotial current is too long trip. Is there even much islands on this route?
 
First, why in the world would the Majapahit even bother with an expedition in the first place? Their trade empire was fine as it is, serving as middlemen and goods suppliers for the Chinese and Indian-Arab traders. Anyone crazy enough to explore would end up doing so without the support of the kingdom, and certainly wouldn't attempt to go out into the Pacific where certain doom is guaranteed. Moreover, the only known route to America at the time was via the Vikings, so it would take forever and cost a shitton to get there via the old Silk Route. We know America is east of Asia by hindsight, but remember, the Pacific is huge as hell, and only a seafaring powerhouse like the Spanish, and someone crazy and ambitious like Megellan could have found this out.

Second, with what boats? The seafaring technology for Southeast Asia as a whole is kinda pathetic. Good for travel between islands, but certainly not ocean-going.

Third, currents, as stated.

In short, to make this a reality would require a massive culling of butterflies which makes any timeline of this utterly unrecognizable. Even a Japanese or Chinese expedition to America has better odds than this.
 
Here's a map of the Pacific Ocean.

I think you'd need to have Majapahit at least control New Zealand and Australia before reaching the Americas as the South Pacific Gyre seems to be better at travelling to the Americas than the Northern Pacific Gyre. Now, at this point, the Polynesians hadn't settled New Zealand yet, so it's pretty ripe for settlement at this point. It could then be used in order to travel to South America, where Majapahit could probably reach the Inca Empire.

Is it actually that better of a current?

New Zealand would be inhabited by the earliest Maori, maybe 3-4 generations into the settlement of New Zealand.

If Majapahit set sail across the sea at their height, they'd probably be just as likely to meet the Chimu than the Inca who hadn't subdued the coast much at that time.

Third, currents, as stated.

In short, to make this a reality would require a massive culling of butterflies which makes any timeline of this utterly unrecognizable. Even a Japanese or Chinese expedition to America has better odds than this.

But the currents are nice, even if that route was unknown. It's like the Manila Galleon route, and Majapahit had interests in that general area. Now, yes, that wasn't a known route, nor is it likely to become a known route by Majapahit, but it does exist.

Japan has it easy since they just need to sail around the islands and get to Alaska and pray they don't die in a storm.
 
Well we know there is a twice made Austronesian migration to Japan, we also are coming up with more and more evidence of an earlier Hawaiian discovery.

On top of that Japanese ships have been known to blow off course, the use of iron in PNW indigenous communities in fact comes from these ships and castaways no doubt.

Aztecs weren't coastal, Teopantecuanitlan is a better bet.

Still the Austronesians were first and foremost spice traders, other than maybe Jade (easier sources found in Burma) and Cocoa I don't see much of value being found and opportunities too limited to settle populated regions.

Idk find islands in the equatorial counter current and try to work it if this is a ATL you're really into. Just get the limits.
 
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