The most accurate statement in the context of why it can be said that Europeans did not "discover" the Americas is:
Native Americans were already inhabiting the land in the Americas.
Before European explorers arrived in the late 15th century, the Americas were already populated by diverse indigenous cultures and societies with their own rich histories, languages, and civilizations. Therefore, describing the European arrival as a "discovery" ignores the existence of these indigenous peoples and their long-standing connections to the land. Additionally, it's worth noting that Norse explorers, such as Leif Erikson, reached parts of North America (specifically what is now Newfoundland in Canada) around the year 1000, well before Columbus's voyages. Thus, the term "discovery" is often viewed as Eurocentric and fails to acknowledge the complex history of the continent prior to European contact.
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