Amerigo Vespucci – Mapping the New World
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer, navigator, and cartographer (mapmaker) from Florence, Italy. At the invitation of King Manuel I of Portugal, he was hired to observe and map several voyages along the east coast of what we know today as South America.
Between 1499 and 1502, Amerigo Vespucci determined that the landmass was part of a new continent and not part of Asia as Christopher Columbus proposed. Vespucci is generally credited for figuring out that Columbus discovered a whole “New World” and not the eastern outskirts of India and China.
Amerigo Vespucci – Naming the New World
In 1507, Martin Waldseemüller produced a world map in which he named this new continent “America.” Waldseemüller took Amerigo Vespucci’s first name and latinized it to Americus, because Latin was the universal language for European maps. However, Americus was a man’s name and Martin Waldseemüller knew that continents, like ships, were always female. So, he took it upon himself to feminize Americus to “America” and the rest is history.
For centuries, cartographers mapped the Old World as a single landmass divided into the three continents we know today: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Martin Waldseemüller started making a map with a single, fourth continent called America. Soon, other cartographers followed suit, and this “New World” became a standard feature on maps of the 16th century and beyond.
The name “America” stuck because Martin Waldseemüller honored Amerigo Vespucci on his map, which was copied over and over again. Ultimately, that’s why we have North and South America and not North and South Columbia.
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
Kylee Compton says
Love this! We just watched this episode. We are using this series as the basis for our history this year in homeschool, and also using “DTH The Gospels” for our bible. Such fun, informative shows! So glad I found yall at the homeschool convention last spring!
Larry Page says
I have heard that he started out as a pickle merchant.
Frankie Beauley says
Love these lessons. They are very informative and interesting with humor dispersed throughout. My son learns through watching and exploring. We are going through this curriculum for our homeschool and are learning much while enjoying the learning process. Thank you!
Zack Browning says
Sick show! Totally rad.