Amerigo Vespucci (14??-15??)

Amerigo Vespucci
Figure 1.-

One might wonder why America is called America rather than Columbia after Columbus who after all discovered it for Europeans. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci who never commanded an exploratory expedition. Vespucciwas born in Florence, the third child of a respected but minor family. His father was a notary for the Money Changers' Guild of Florence. As a result of his more advantageous social position, he had much grander aspirations than his more humble Genoan competitors (Columbus and Cabot). The young Amerigo worked for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici and his brother Giovanni. It was these brothers who were driven out of Florence when the Midicis fell from power that sent Vespucci to work in of all places Seville, Spain where they had an agency (1492). This was of course the precise time that Columbus' voyage opened up tremendous opportunities. Vespucci became an agent to Columbus' agent and financier. Thus the virtually unknown Italian merchant began the transition to a famed explorer and cartographer. Vespucci participated in two Spanish expeditions along the southern coast of South America. As a result of these voyages, he realized that the coast of the what Columbus had discovered extended much further south than originally believed. He thus came to believe that the discovery was a new continent and not Asia as Columbus and others originally believed. German scholar and cartoghrapher Martin Waldseemuller honoring Vespucci's insight created one of the most historic maps in history (1507). His map was the first to show the Pacific as a separate ocean. And he was the first to name the new continent Columbus had discovered--America. The Spanish Crown created the position of pilot major (chief of navigation) of Spain for Vespucci (1508). He was given responsibility for training pilots (navigators) for ocean voyages. He sucumed to malaria and died in Seville (1512).

Naming America

One might wonder why America is called America rather than Columbia after Columbus who after all discovered it for Europeans. America is named after Amerigo Vespucci who never commanded an exploratory expedition.

Parents

Amerigo was the third child of a respected but minor family. His father was a notary for the Money Changers' Guild of Florence.

Childhood

Vespucciwas born in Florence, unlike the other two great early explorers Columbus and Cabot who were born in Genoa.

Education


Early Career

As a result of his more advantageous social position, he had much grander aspirations than his more humble Genoan competitors (Columbus and Cabot). The young Amerigo worked for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici and his brother Giovanni.

Spain

It was these brothers who were driven out of Florence when the Midicis fell from power that sent Vespucci to work in of all places Seville, Spain where they had an agency (1492). This was of course the precise time that Columbus' voyage opened up tremendous opportunities. Vespucci became an agent to Columbus' agent and financier. Thus the virtually unknown Italian merchant began the transition to a famed explorer and cartographer.

Expeditions

Vespucci participated in two expeditions along the southern coast of South America. Unlike Columbus and Cabot, he did not captain either.

Spanish expedition (1499)

Vespucci was essentially a banker and clerk. Fascinating by Columbus' expedition, he attempted to learn navigation so he could participate in the explorations. He joined a Spanish expedition that sailed along the coast of South America.

Coelho expedition (1501)

Vespucci managed to join the an expedition commanded by the Portuguese captain Gonzalo Coelho (1501). They sailed further south than on the earlier expedition along the ciast of Brazil. Vespucci sescribed his adventures in a long letter to a friend in Florence. He described Brazil as a paradice with luxuriant vegetationnand nobel savages. The letter was published making Vespucci a well known fif=gure througout Europe.

Insight

As a result of these two voyages, Vespucci realized that the coast of the what Columbus had discovered extended much further south than originally believed. Unlike Columbus, he had no vested interest in the idea that what had been reached was Asia. Vespucci thus came to believe that the discovery was a new continent and not Asia as Columbus and others originally believed.

Martin Waldseemuller (1507)

German scholar and cartoghrapher Martin Waldseemuller honoring Vespucci's insight created one of the most historic maps in history (1507). His map was the first to show the Pacific as a separate ocean. And he was the first to name the new continent Columbus had discovered--America. It was the finest Renasissance map of the world and had great influence

Larer Life

The Spanish Crown created the position of pilot major (chief of navigation) of Spain for Vespucci (1508). He was given responsibility for training pilots (navigators) for ocean voyages. He sucumed to malaria and died in Seville (1512).

Sources

Boyle. David. Towards the Setting Sun: Columbus, Cabot, Vespucci, and the Race for America (Walker & Company, 2008), 421p.








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Created: 3:05 PM 8/31/2008
Last updated: 3:05 PM 8/31/2008