Amerigo Vespucci: A Whole New World

AMERIGO VESPUCCI: A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Jessica Carter

History 101-30125

George Lewis

June 23, 2016

        Before the Americas were discovered during the Renaissance, South America was believed to be an extension of Asia. Until the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci landed near the coast of Brazil. Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy and began working for the famous Medici family of Italy. He began to work to supply ships to prepare for their expeditions. Most explorers at the time thought that when they crossed the Atlantic Ocean, they would land in Asia. However, Amerigo Vespucci’s explorations found a New World that had yet to be recorded. Vespucci was a master of navigation, cartography and explorer. These qualities and the findings from his explorations mark his importance and contribution to the Renaissance.

        Born in Florence, Italy, Amerigo Vespucci did not lead his first expedition until he was in his 40’s.  He set out on his first voyage “around 1497, probably a trip organized by King Ferdinand of Spain, who wanted to clarify if the island of Hispaniola, which had been discovered by Christopher Columbus, lay near the mainland of "the Indies." Vespucci himself said that he went on the voyage to discover "new worlds."”^[1] During Vespucci’s second expedition, it is thought that he discovered the Amazon River. After returning from his second trip to the “new world” he set sail on his third voyage and landed on the coast of Brazil. Because of indifferences in letters Amerigo Vespucci wrote to document his expeditions, it is not certain if a fourth voyage actually happened or not. “It is uncertain whether Vespucci took part in yet another expedition (1503–04) for the Portuguese government (it is said that he may have been with one under Gonzalo Coelho). In any case, this expedition contributed no fresh knowledge. Although Vespucci subsequently helped to prepare other expeditions, he never again joined one in person.”^[2] Amerigo Vespucci returned to Europe and became a citizen of Spain. After his return, he was made a pilot major of Spain; a highly respected position. Sadly, during his different voyages, he contracted malaria which ended up taking his life in 1512. Because of Vespucci’s voyages, letters and map making skills, the “new world” was named after him. “The geographers who used his reports labeled the continent whose outline was emerging on their maps “the discoveries of Amerigo” (“America”). 3