Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer. He was born in 1454. Vespucci lived in Florence Italy with a great family. Unlike his other brothers, he mostly learned about the trade of a merchant. He did not go to a university. So he soon got hired for a job as a clerk by Lorenzo Medici. He was from the House of Medici.

Later, during his career he was able to go to Spain to help supply for Christopher Columbus’s exploration. Because he was able to experience being with Columbus on his journeys, Vespucci got inspired to go and explore the New World himself.

King Manuel I in 1499 asked Amerigo to come with him on a few explorations to South America. So, of course Vespucci agreed to join him. Throughout his explorations, he kept a record of his travels and later published the book when he returned back to Europe in 1504.

In 1507 a man named, Martin Waldseemuller decided to create a map inspired by the writings of Amerigo Vespucci. In honor of him, Martin decided to name the new continents America. That is how the continents got their name to this day. He also had another set of writings that he was publishing but he received lots of criticism that he was trying to bring down Columbus’s glory for his explorations that he did.

What Amerigo stated about the New World was different from what other explorers have said. Vespucci thought that Asia was not part of the New World. And, as we know to this day, he was correct with that statement.

Vespucci now was one of the best navigators of Spain. Unfortunately, he died in 1512 from malaria. But, Amerigo Vespucci did leave his mark in the world especially when the continents to this day were inspired by his name.