For centuries, the story of America’s discovery has captivated global attention, typically credited to Christopher Columbus. However, there are other figures often overlooked by mainstream historical narratives, including Khashkhash ibn Saeed ibn Aswad, who purportedly set foot in the New World years before Columbus. Khashkhash, a medieval Arab traveler and explorer, left behind a mysterious and intriguing legacy that challenges the traditional narrative of America’s discovery.
Who is Khashkhash ibn Saeed ibn Aswad?
In forgotten corners of history, the name Khashkhash ibn Saeed ibn Aswad redraws the map of New World exploration. This Arab admiral, whose roots were firmly in the Andalusian city of Bishayna, charted an extraordinary course across the mysterious waters of the Atlantic centuries before documented voyages of Columbus.
According to the Muslim historian Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Mas’udi in his timeless work “The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Gems,” Khashkhash set sail from the city of Walba, known for its courage and daring, in the year 889 CE.
From this obscure beginning, Khashkhash embarked on an exploratory journey scarcely recorded in most exploration narratives, discovering uncharted lands before returning laden with treasures that tell stories of yet undiscovered cultures. This exceptional tale, revived through al-Mas’udi’s accounts, sheds light on adventures steeped in secrecy and reshapes our understanding of human history and the courage of exploration.
Khashkhash ibn Saeed and the discovery of America.
In a remarkable twist of historical events, ancient documents and historical books provide evidence suggesting that the Muslim Arab sailor Khashkhash ibn Saeed preceded European explorers to the Americas by centuries. Credit for this claim is due to the Arab historian Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Mas’udi and his work “The Meadows of Gold,” which documents Khashkhash ibn Saeed’s voyage in 889 CE, affirming him as the first to set foot on the New World.
These revelations challenge the traditional understanding that Italian navigator Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover the Americas in the late 15th century. It is noted that Columbus, sailing under the Spanish crown, benefited from maps and knowledge collected previously, including those based on voyages of Muslim sailors like Khashkhash ibn Saeed.
Records indicate that Khashkhash, born in Bishayna in Andalusia, departed from the city of Walba, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to reach previously unknown lands. The Muslim explorer returned home with valuable treasures, in a journey bearing striking similarities to what Columbus would achieve four centuries later.
This narrative is not merely a tale of a successful exploratory journey, but a challenge to the central European narrative that has long dominated the history of geographical discoveries. It highlights the importance of Islamic contributions to geographic sciences and knowledge, which helped map the world and open new horizons for humanity.
Reevaluating this historical period, considering the real role of Muslim sailors like Khashkhash ibn Saeed, invites a more comprehensive view and appreciation of human exploration history, emphasizing the diverse nature of cultures and civilizations in building global knowledge.
The mysterious discovery… treasures from the past on the coasts of Venezuela.
In a pivotal moment in the late 19th century, the eastern coast of Venezuela revealed a hidden secret when a large ceramic vessel was discovered, containing approximately 6,000 ancient coins. These archaeological pieces included a sea of Roman coins dating back to the 4th century, accompanied by a notable addition of Islamic coins that emerged in the 8th century. This precious treasure fell into the hands of Berkeley Lewis, a prominent military figure at the U.S. embassy in Venezuela at the time, who wasted no time in transferring this valuable discovery to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., thereby enabling his friend Mendel L. Peterson, a marine archaeologist, to delve into the depths of the history of these exceptional artifacts.
Through careful analysis and meticulous work, Mendel L. Peterson, in his correspondences with Paul J. Willis, a historian in May 7, 1968, indicated that he was working on studying these unique coins with determination and determination, looking forward to publishing a detailed report on this important discovery.
However, it seems that there is a research paper by Peterson that has been lost in oblivion, dealing with the challenges facing the ancient coins of corrosion and rust, but it remained capable of revealing its secrets, confirming that the vast majority of them are Roman and that there are valuable Islamic pieces from the eighth century.
The surprising element in this discovery is not only the vast quantity of similar and repetitive coins, but also what these coins indicate the possibility of being lost during an ancient sinking accident rather than being part of a newly buried coin collection. The mixing of Roman and Islamic coins takes us to the hypothesis of a shipwreck in the eighth or ninth century, providing a rare glimpse into the historical and cultural interactions that shaped Mediterranean civilizations over the ages.
Where are the discovered coins located?
The fate of a group of historical coins is shrouded in mystery, which is likely to be carefully stored in the drawers of the Smithsonian Institution, one of the most prominent scientific and educational institutions in the world. According to multiple sources, these archaeological coins were carefully studied by the institution, which later returned them to Berkeley Lewis, who is believed to be the owner of the original coins. Reports indicate that these coins may now be part of the Lewis family’s collection.
However, the fate of these precious coins remains uncertain, in the absence of effective intervention by cultural and historical institutions in Venezuela. This mystery raises questions about the importance and value of these coins in the context of world history, reflecting the need for more transparency and cooperation among international cultural institutions to protect human heritage.
Who is Christopher Locombus?
Christopher Columbus, the Genoese navigator and explorer born in the mid-15th century, is one of the most prominent figures in the history of geographical discoveries. Supported by the Spanish monarchy, Columbus set sail in 1492 with the aim of finding a new sea route to India, but instead arrived in the Americas, opening the door to a new era of European exploration of the New World.
Although he was not the first to reach the Americas, his four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean were decisive in paving the way for European colonization of the Americas. Columbus is widely celebrated for his courage and determination, despite the controversy surrounding his impact on the indigenous peoples of the Americas and the long-term consequences of his discoveries.
