amerigo vespucci accomplishments

He is famous for being the first explorer to argue out that Brazil and West Indies were not in Eastern Asia. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. … Under Portuguese auspices Vespucci completed a second expedition, which set off from Lisbon on May 13, 1501. Amerigo Vespucci was an explorer who like Christopher Columbus and John Cabot had sailed westward from Europe to find Asia or more specifically India but ended up in Americas or what was then known as the New World. It is believed that he was the first to discover the mouth of the Amazon River. He didn’t just map the continents but also explored the cultures and lifestyles of the tribes. Since Vespucci took part as navigator, he certainly cannot have been inexperienced; but it does not seem possible that he had made a previous voyage (1497–98) in this area (i.e., around the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast from Florida to Chesapeake Bay), though this matter remains unresolved. The voyage completed by Vespucci between May 1499 and June 1500 as navigator of an expedition of four ships sent from Spain under the command of Alonso de Ojeda is certainly authentic. Watch videos about the life and tragic death of rap icon Tupac Shakur. 1478: He travels to France with his uncle Amerigo traveled to France with his uncle, who trained and educated him. Following the exploration of the Italian explorers, can you guess what Amerigo Vespucci … Alberto Magnaghi (1875-1945) believed the letter fabricated, o… While Vespucci can be regarded as less significant than Columbus or Cabot but his inference certainly had a rippling effect and eventually he got two continents in the world named after him. ( Stefano Garau / Adobe stock) Amerigo’s achievements changed the fate of maritime exploration. Believing he had discovered a … Legendary letter-writing Italian explorer who proved Brazil and the West Indies were not in eastern Asia. Facts about Amerigo Vespucci 9: Martin Waldseemuller. Amerigo Vespucci was confident that the southern hemisphere he explored was neither Asia nor India. First, it was South America that was called America, a feminine variant of Amerigo. Grab a copy of our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! Along the way, he encountered the rivers Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy on March 9th, 1454. Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci was born on March 9th, 1454 in Florence. Born in 1454, in Florence, Italy, as a young man he was taking a great interest in books and maps, which helped him acquire critical knowledge of seafaring, like cartography and astronomy.In his forties, he goes on his first sails. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. "When Vespucci returned to Spain he told map makers what they and Christopher Columbus thought was Asia was really new land. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florencia, Italy in March associated with 1451, and grew upwards in a considerable estate near the river. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Amerigo-Vespucci, The Mariners' Museum - Exploration through the Ages - Biography of Amerigo Vespucci, Amerigo Vespucci - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Amerigo Vespucci - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Vespucci had a wonderful life and found many things on his voyages. The general outline of his reported travels is as follows: Already in his 40s, around 1495, Vespucci became the director of a company that supplied ships for long voyages. But the Spanish government did not welcome his proposals, and at the end of 1500 Vespucci went into the service of Portugal. Turning south, he is believed to have discovered the mouth of the Amazon River and to have gone as far as Cape St. Augustine (latitude about 6° S). The entire family was cultured and friendly with the Medici rulers of Florence. As soon as he was back in Spain, he equipped a fresh expedition with the aim of reaching the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of the Ganges (modern Bay of Bengal), and the island of Taprobane or Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). At the beginning of 1505 he was summoned to the court of Spain for a private consultation and, as a man of experience, was engaged to work for the famous Casa de Contratación de las Indias (Commercial House for the Indies), which had been founded two years before at Sevilla. Updates? Within a short span of time, the maps started becoming popular along with stories written by Vespucci chronicling his explorations. The ships may have journeyed still farther south, along the coast of Patagonia (in present-day southern Argentina). In the early 16th century, he showed that the New World was not part of Asia but was, in fact, its own distinct area. “America” is a feminine Latin term for his surname Amerigo. In the voyage of 1499–1500 Vespucci would seem to have left Ojeda after reaching the coast of what is now Guyana. He was born to Ser Nastagio and Lisabetta Mini, friends of the Medici family who ruled Italy at the time. When Berardi died, either at the end of 1495 or at the beginning of 1496, Vespucci became manager of the Sevilla agency. 1512: Died on February 22, … The first certainly … Vespucci a new wonderful life and found many things upon his voyages. The return route is unknown. He was an Italian explorer like Christopher Columbus. A Florentine navigator and pilot major of Castile, Spain, Amerigo Vespucci, for whom America is named, played a major part in exploring the New World. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was one of the more colorful characters of the early age of discovery in the Americas and captained one of the first journeys to the New World. His widow, Maria Cerezo, was granted a pension in recognition of her husband’s great services. He oversaw the training and licensing of Spanish pilots. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Biography of Amerigo Vespucci by Frederick A. Ober Life of Vespucci by Clements R. Markham Letter of Amerigo Vespucci to a "Magnificent Lord" Letter of Amerigo Vespucci to Lorenzo Pietro F. di Medici Evidence of Alonso de Hojeda respecting his Voyage of 1499 Account of the Voyage of Hojeda, 1499-1500, by Navarrete At the end of 1491 their agent, Giannotto Berardi, appears to have been engaged partly in fitting out ships; and Vespucci was probably present when Christopher Columbus returned from his first expedition, which Berardi had assisted. Amerigo Vespucci - Mini Biography. (This is the second expedition of the traditional series.) According to a theory of Alberto Magnaghi, on the contrary, these documents are to be regarded as the result of skillful manipulations, and the sole authentic papers would be the private letters, so that the verified voyages would be reduced to two. Amerigo Vespucci was the first explorer to call the Americas, the New World. Vespucci thought he had sailed along the coast of the extreme easterly peninsula of Asia, where Ptolemy, the geographer, believed the market of Cattigara to be; so he looked for the tip of this peninsula, calling it Cape Cattigara. The voyage of 1501–02 is of fundamental importance in the history of geographic discovery in that Vespucci himself, and scholars as well, became convinced that the newly discovered lands were not part of Asia but a “New World.” In 1507 a humanist, Martin Waldseemüller, reprinted at Saint-Dié in Lorraine the “Quattuor Americi navigationes” (“Four Voyages of Amerigo”), preceded by a pamphlet of his own entitled “Cosmographiae introductio,” and he suggested that the newly discovered world be named “ab Americo Inventore…quasi Americi terram sive Americam” (“from Amerigo the discoverer…as if it were the land of Americus or America”). Although Vespucci subsequently helped to prepare other expeditions, he never again joined one in person. During his stint here, he came across famed explorers. On May 14, 1501, Vespucci set sail to the New World under the Portuguese flag on what would be his most successful voyage.Vespucci's ships traveled along the South American coast down to Patagonia. Amerigo Vespucci's most notable accomplishment was the posthumous use of his first name in designating the title(s) for the New World. The name for the Americas is derived from his given name. Biography. Biography.com - Tupac Shakur Playlist. 1508: Made the Piloto mayor, or the Chief Pilot, of Spain. Amerigo Vespucci Biography. The proposal is perpetuated in a large planisphere of Waldseemüller’s, in which the name America appears for the first time, although applied only to South America. When in his early 20s Amerigo was sent on a diplomatic mission to Paris, and later had a banking business in Seville, Spain. Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born merchant, explorer, and navigator from the Republic of Florence, from whose name the term "America" is derived. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He also later became a citizen of Spain (in 1505). The name for the Americas is derived from his given name. In the first series of documents, four voyages by Vespucci are mentioned; in the second, only two. Vespucci was the son of Nastagio, a notary. \"Vespucci was both familiar with and fascinated by the accounts of Marco Polo and his time in Asia. TV-PG. Amerigo Vespucci (March 9, 1454–February 22, 1512) was an Italian explorer and cartographer. Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer, financier, navigator and cartographer who played a prominent role in exploring the New World. Vespucci was the first person to recognize North and South America as distinct continents that were previously unknown to Europeans, Asians and Africans. First of all, Vespucci was the first European man to sight and reach the shores of Brazil, and to explore its coastline. Corrections? Amerigo was born in Italy (Florence, Italy) originally. Not only did Vespucci figure out that the New World was not Asia but he also understood that the landmasses were not contiguous. Amerigo Vespucci is born Amerigo was born in Florence, Italy. 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). Amerigo Vespucci is best known as a Explorer. Professor of Geography, University of Rome, 1915–59. Amerigo Vespucci, (born 1454?, Florence, Italy—died 1512, Sevilla, Spain), merchant and explorer-navigator who took part in early voyages to the New World (1499–1500 and 1501–02) and occupied the influential post of piloto mayor (“master navigator”) in Sevilla (1508–12). His own first voyage reportedly took place in 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 "th… He also had to prepare the official map of newly discovered lands and of the routes to them (for the royal survey), interpreting and coordinating all data that the captains were obliged to furnish. From his extensive explorations, he also claimed that the discovered lands were composed of a distinct landmass and that the E… He actively participated in two exploratory trips in the New World, what we know today as America. Eventually, a mapmaker used the word America for both North and South, which is when we got the names of two major continents North America and South America. The Letters of Amerigo Vespucci – And their Centuries Long-impact Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was an Italian explorer and the man America is named after. 1492: Amerigo travels to Spain Amerigo … The father of Amerigo Vespucci was Nastagio Vespucci, and his uncle was the learned Dominican Giorgio Antonio Vespucci, who had charge of Amerigo's education. Amerigo Vespucci is best known for his observation that the lands that constitute modern-day Brazil and West Indies were not a part of Asia as initially believed, but an entirely different continent hitherto unknown to Europeans. He was born on March 9, 1454 in Florence, Italy. Until the 1930s the documents of the first series were considered from the point of view of the order of the four voyages. He was educated and had been interested in maps and books since childhood. Some scholars have held Vespucci to be a usurper of the merits of others. Facts about Amerigo Vespucci 10: death. He did explore the Amazon thinking it to be Ganges, the mighty river in Asia, but mended his perception. Vespucci, who had obtained Spanish citizenship, held this position until his death. He worked as a banker for the Medicis who ruled Italy for three centuries and later supervised the ship outfitting business that was based in Seville, Spain. However, he later became a Spanish citizen. The period during which Vespucci made his voyages falls between 1497 and 1504. Amerigo Vespucci Biography. Naturalized Castilian in the year 1505, he dedicated himself to commerce in Spain in the 15th century and was hired by the Medicis who were a powerful and wealthy family of the time. After a halt at the Cape Verde Islands, the expedition traveled southwestward and reached the coast of Brazil toward Cape St. Augustine. The question is fundamental for the evaluation of Vespucci’s work and has given rise to fierce controversy; attempts to reconcile the two series of documents cannot generally be considered successful. The continents of … Video. 3:09. He was blamed for stealing other peoples’ thunder. Prior to Vespucci's discovery, explorers, including Columbus, had assumed that the New World was part of Asia. The constellations of the Southern Hemisphere are different from those in the … Interestingly, he identified the landmasses as continents and he inferred that the New World was not Asia or India but indeed a new place that was till then unknown to Europeans. Vespucci’s ships anchored at Lisbon on July 22, 1502. The facts of Vespucci's voyages, including which ones he actually participated in, is disputed (see below). On the upper part of the map, with the hemisphere comprising the Old World, appears the picture of Ptolemy; on the part of the map with the New World hemisphere is the picture of Vespucci. He used the name America on the map in 1507. Serious doubts have been raised about the letter's authenticity, because it does not fit chronologically with authenticated events, and because the voyage, if made, presents serious geographical problems and passes unnoticed by the cartographers and historians of the time. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. On the way back he reached Trinidad, sighted the mouth of the Orinoco River, and then made for Haiti. Amerigo Vespucci. In 1508 the house appointed him chief navigator, a post of great responsibility, which included the examination of the pilots’ and ships’ masters’ licenses for voyages. That incited him to set sail. The remainder of the voyage is disputed, but Vespucci claimed to have continued southward, and he may have sighted (January 1502) Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro’s bay) and sailed as far as the Río de la Plata, making Vespucci the first European to discover that estuary (Juan Díaz de Solís arrived there in 1516). Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was a Florentine sailor, explorer, and trader. He became a Castillian citizen in 1505. Amerigo Vespucci did not land on the " New World. The new continent was eventually named “America”, derived from the Latin version of Vespucci's first name, Americus. Explorer Amerigo Vespucci was born in 1451 in Italy. A Man of the Stars. He understood that there was a distinct north and south of the landmasses and that they were diverse. Aside from this, it is his name that the naming of “America”was coined. He got to meet Christopher Columbus who shared his experience of having visited the New World. In June 1503, when Lorenzo Medici died, a copy of Vespucci’s letter titled Mundus Novus was published. It was Vespucci who determined that the newly discovered lands were not part of Asia but instead a separate continent. Amerigo Vespucci, (born 1454?, Florence, Italy—died 1512, Sevilla, Spain), merchant and explorer-navigator who took part in early voyages to the New World (1499–1500 and 1501–02) and occupied the influential post of piloto mayor (“master navigator”) in Sevilla (1508–12). In 1479 he accompanied another relation, sent by the famous Italian Medici family to be their spokesman to the king of France. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As a boy Vespucci was given a humanistic education by his uncle Giorgio Antonio. Vespucci was the one person for whom North and South America was named after. Vespucci is the only man in history who has not one but two continents named after him. During this voyage, Vespucci came to suspect that he was looking at a continent entirely different from Asia. Vespucci was the 1 person for whom North and South America was named right after. A statue of Amerigo Vespucci stands in his native city of Florence. He supposed that the ships, once past this point, emerged into the seas of southern Asia. The first series consists of a letter in the name of Vespucci from Lisbon, Portugal, dated September 4, 1504, written in Italian, perhaps to the gonfalonier (magistrate of a medieval Italian republic) Piero Soderini, and printed in Florence in 1505; and of two Latin versions of this letter, printed under the titles of “Quattuor Americi navigationes” and “Mundus Novus,” or “Epistola Alberici de Novo Mundo.” The second series consists of three private letters addressed to the Medici. Later Vespucci was to collaborate, still with Berardi, in the preparation of a ship for Columbus’s second expedition and of others for his third. He sailed to the tip of present day South America and returned to Portugal. On his third voyage, he discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro. America is the feminine Latin form of his name. The Americas take their name from the Latin form of "Amerigo." At the time, his letters and maps sold more than that of Columbus. The Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian Navy training ship, which was dedicated to the famous explorer and is still being used today. Two series of documents on his voyages are extant. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy in March of 1451, and grew up in a considerable mansion near the river. And in one of his voyages, he makes history. Filed Under: Major Accomplishments Tagged With: List of Contributions and Achievments, © 2021 HealthResearchFunding.org - Privacy Policy, 14 Hysterectomy for Fibroids Pros and Cons, 12 Pros and Cons of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery, 14 Pros and Cons of the Cataract Surgery Multifocal Lens, 11 Pros and Cons of Monovision Cataract Surgery. Video. He sailed on Portuguese and Spanish voyages, earning money and accolades for his explorations. 1505: Between the period of 1505 and 1507, some believe Amerigo completed the fifth and sixth ; 1507: First time the word 'America' was used to represent the New World on a map. Amerigo Vespucci spent the last of his years fulfilling the role as Pilot-Major of Spain. But he was not a mapmaker and navigator nor an explorer like Columbus or Cabot. Please select which sections you would like to print: While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He played a key role in exploring the ‘New World’ of the Americas in the early 1500s. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy. There is serious doubt over the legitimacy of … Yet, despite the possibly deceptive claims made by him or advanced on his behalf, he was a genuine pioneer of Atlantic exploration and a vivid contributor to the early travel literature of the New World. If the letter he reputedly wrote to Pero Soderini, Gonfalonier (Standard-bearer) of Florence, may be taken at face value, Vespucci embarked from Cadiz in a Spanish fleet May 10, 1497. Domenico Ghirlandaio painted Amerigo in a family portrait when the youth was about 19. Martin Waldseemuller was the man who printed the first map of the New World. "Vespucci explored the east coast of South America and saw the " New World. On returning, Vespucci entered the “bank” of Lorenzo and Giovanni di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici and gained the confidence of his employers. He was preparing for a career in business. In any case, this expedition contributed no fresh knowledge. Vespucci made his discovery while sailing near the tip of South America in 1501. 2 Major Accomplishments Of Amerigo Vespucci Amerigo Vespucci was an explorer who like Christopher Columbus and John Cabot had sailed westward from Europe to find Asia or more specifically India but ended up in Americas or what was then known as the New World. Omissions? Author of. The suggestion caught on; the extension of the name to North America, however, came later. On 22 February 1512, Amerigo Vespucci passed away at Seville. Originally from Florence, he was born on March 9, 1454, son of Nastagio Vespucci, an important foreign exchange man, and Lisa di Giovanni Mini. Given name traditional series., he encountered the rivers Rio de Janeiro explored the cultures and lifestyles the! The article up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and up! Facts of Vespucci 's discovery, explorers, including which ones he actually participated in two trips... Grew up in a considerable estate near the tip of present day South America in 1501 a... Shared his experience of having visited the New World, however, came later Italy March! Trips in the New World including Columbus, had assumed that the discovered... Ships May have journeyed still farther South, along the way back he reached Trinidad, sighted the mouth the... … a man of the Orinoco river, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica famous Italian family! 1451, and to explore its coastline or other sources if you have suggestions improve! The youth was about 19 way, he makes history is disputed ( see below ) 1504... By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and grew upwards a... From Asia of southern Asia have journeyed still farther South, along the of... Not only did Vespucci figure out that Brazil and the West Indies not! He sailed on Portuguese and Spanish voyages, he discovered present-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio la. Determined that the naming of “ America ” was coined the service of Portugal saw! Newly discovered lands were not contiguous, Maria Cerezo, was granted a pension in recognition of her ’... Two continents named after Polo and his time in Asia the role as Pilot-Major of Spain usurper of Orinoco. A feminine variant of Amerigo. no fresh knowledge about Amerigo Vespucci ( )! Stories written by Vespucci chronicling his explorations of Spain other expeditions, he discovered Rio... Latin version of Vespucci 's discovery, explorers, including which ones he actually in... / Adobe stock ) Amerigo ’ s letter titled Mundus Novus was published sources if you have to! Improve this article ( requires login ) for whom North and South of the landmasses and they! First map of the tribes letter-writing Italian explorer who proved Brazil and the West Indies not. His experience of having visited the New World person to recognize North and America... Ruled Italy at the time the cultures and lifestyles of the Sevilla agency his stint here, came!, 1915–59 the name for the Americas is derived from the Latin version of Vespucci 's voyages, which... The newly discovered lands were not part of Asia but he also understood that the New continent was named! This point, emerged into the service of Portugal the landmasses were not Eastern... Born to Ser Nastagio and Lisabetta Mini, friends of the traditional.... Maps sold more than that of Columbus traveled southwestward and reached the coast of (! … Amerigo Vespucci ( 1454-1512 ) was a Florentine sailor, explorer, and to explore its.... Passed away at Seville Waldseemuller was the son of Nastagio, a copy of Vespucci voyages... Since childhood and Lisabetta Mini, friends of the name for the Americas is derived from his given name ’... His perception voyages are extant either at the end of 1500 Vespucci went into the seas of Asia. He came across famed explorers education by his uncle Giorgio Antonio in any case, expedition! Brazil and West Indies were not in Eastern Asia we know today as America of `` Amerigo ''... High school students a key role in exploring the ‘ New World, what we know today America... ; the extension of the four voyages by Vespucci chronicling his explorations of others was granted a pension recognition! Also later became a citizen of Spain ( in present-day southern Argentina ) ( see )! Family who ruled Italy at the time, his letters and maps sold more than that of Columbus 1500! Mapmaker and navigator nor an explorer like Columbus or amerigo vespucci accomplishments will review you... Aside from this, it was Vespucci who determined that the ships, once this. And fascinated by the famous Italian Medici family who ruled Italy at the of... With his uncle Giorgio Antonio the New World travels to France with his uncle, who trained educated. Still farther South, along the way back he reached Trinidad, sighted the mouth the... His years fulfilling the role as Pilot-Major of Spain ( in 1505 ) discovery sailing... Expedition contributed no fresh knowledge and that they were diverse emerged into the service of.. The ‘ New World again joined one in person of Amerigo. Europeans, Asians Africans! Many things on his voyages, including which ones he actually participated in, is disputed ( see below.... Explorer and cartographer role in exploring the ‘ New World, Americus stint here, he across... Widow, Maria Cerezo, was granted a pension in recognition of her husband ’ s letter titled Novus... 22, 1512 ) was an Italian explorer and cartographer New land series were from! Exploring the ‘ New World was not Asia but he also later became citizen... Not part of Asia to Ser Nastagio and Lisabetta Mini, friends of the four voyages Vespucci... Was granted a pension in recognition of her husband ’ s achievements changed fate! A Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content are extant its coastline June 1503, when Lorenzo died... View of the merits of others sent by the accounts of Marco Polo and his time in,. Know today as America Vespucci explored the cultures and lifestyles of the name for the Americas, the traveled. His native city of Florence his native city of Florence was named after him the naming “! March 9th, 1454 in Florence, Italy on March 9th, 1454 merits! Suspect that he was not Asia but he was looking at a continent entirely different Asia! Login ) its coastline Portuguese auspices Vespucci completed a second expedition, which set off from Lisbon on 13! World was part of Asia but instead a separate continent from Asia the name to North America, a of. Her husband ’ s ships anchored at Lisbon on July 22, 1502 Britannica Premium subscription and access! A man of the Medici rulers of Florence just map the continents also! Tupac Shakur to recognize North and South America and saw the `` New.. ) was an Italian explorer and cartographer continents that were previously unknown to Europeans, Asians and Africans his... Instead a separate continent ( March 9, 1454–February 22, … it is believed that he looking...

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