Is it possible also that a lot of continental locations were thought to be islands early in their discovery because no one had been able to sail all the way around them yet, and island was the default assumption?
I know California was interpreted as an Island for a long while. It makes sense that islands were the default assumption, as otherwise that would mean more continents people were not aware of (which could have been unexpected, unless you were looking for them).
Is it possible also that a lot of continental locations were thought to be islands early in their discovery because no one had been able to sail all the way around them yet, and island was the default assumption?
I know California was interpreted as an Island for a long while. It makes sense that islands were the default assumption, as otherwise that would mean more continents people were not aware of (which could have been unexpected, unless you were looking for them).