Final answer:
Schools usually teach that Christopher Columbus 'discovered' America, but this overlooks the fact that Native Americans were already living there for thousands of years. This can be attributed to historical perspective, lack of information, educational bias, and cultural misconception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Schools usually teach that Christopher Columbus 'discovered' America despite the fact that Native Americans had been living there for thousands of years and archaeological evidence suggests that Vikings were the earliest known European settlers in North America. This can be attributed to a combination of factors, including historical perspective, lack of information, educational bias, and cultural misconception. In the past, history textbooks tended to focus on Columbus as a significant figure in the colonization of the Americas, emphasizing his role in European contact with the New World. However, with advancements in archaeological research and a broader understanding of history, there is now a greater recognition of the indigenous people and their contributions to the development of the West.