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Table of Contents
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian adventurer, geographer, and trader. Between 1499 and 1502, he participated in two expeditions that explored South America’s east coast. During the second of these expeditions, he learned that South America went far farther south than Europeans had previously believed. This persuaded him that this territory belonged to a brand-new continent, which was a bold claim considering that other European explorers who had crossed the Atlantic thought they had reached Asia at the time.
See the fact file below for more information on Amerigo Vespucci, or you can download our 27-page Amerigo Vespucci worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Early Life
- On March 9, 1454, in Florence, Amerigo Vespucci was born. When he was little, he was enthralled with books and maps.
- Ser Nastagio and Lisabetta Mini, the parents of Vespucci, were close friends of the affluent and erratic Medicis, which controlled Italy from the 1400s to 1737.
- The father of Amerigo Vespucci was a notary in Florence. Vespucci’s paternal uncle, a Dominican monk named Giorgio Antonio Vespucci, provided him with early schooling when his older brothers left for the University of Pisa in Tuscany.
- Another uncle, Guido Antonio Vespucci, who served as the envoy of Florence to King Louis XI of France while Vespucci was in his early 20s, dispatched his nephew on a brief diplomatic trip to Paris. The journey probably sparked Vespucci’s interest in travel and exploration.
- Vespucci’s father pushed him to establish a business when he was 24. He engaged in a range of economic activities in Florence. Later, he relocated to Seville, Spain, where he established a company with Gianetto Berardi, a fellow Florentine. He is claimed to have learned of the search for a northwest passage through the Indies at that time.
- Vespucci started working with the merchants that provided Christopher Columbus with supplies for his subsequent expeditions in the late 1490s. Vespucci got to see Columbus in Seville in 1496 when he returned from his trip to America. The discussion sparked Vespucci’s desire to travel and experience the world firsthand.
- Vespucci’s enterprise had trouble turning a profit by the late 1490s. Vespucci was aware that the Spanish monarch, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, were open to providing funding for more explorers’ expeditions. Then, in his forties, Vespucci decided to abandon his company and pursue exploration before it was too late, drawn in by the promise of glory.
Vespucci’s Voyages
First Voyage
- Following a letter that Vespucci may or may not have written, he set off on his first voyage from Cadiz on May 10, 1497, accompanied by a fleet of Spanish ships.
- According to the contentious letter, it took the ships almost five weeks to travel from the West Indies to the continent of Central America.
- If the letter were genuine, Vespucci would have found Venezuela a year before Columbus. In October 1498, Vespucci and his ships returned to Cadiz.
Second Voyage
- Vespucci set off on his subsequent mission in May 1499 as Alonzo de Ojeda’s navigator, flying the Spanish flag.
- They crossed the equator and arrived at what is now Guyana’s shore; it is said that from there, Vespucci abandoned Ojeda and continued to investigate Brazil’s coast.
- Vespucci is credited with discovering Cape St. Augustine and the Amazon River on this voyage. Numerous sources date the voyage to 1499, seven years after Columbus first set foot in the Bahamas. Vespucci traveled to the northern region of South America and the Amazon River.
Third Voyage
- Vespucci set off on yet another transatlantic expedition on May 14, 1501. Vespucci, who was now on his third expedition, set off for Cape Verde, this time in support of King Manuel I of Portugal.
- Most people agree that Vespucci’s third expedition was his most successful. From Cape So Roque to Patagonia, Vespucci’s ships traversed the length of the South American coastline. On their journey, they came across modern-day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata.
- Vespucci and his armada made their way home through Sierra Leone and the Azores. Vespucci, who thought he had found a new continent, referred to South America as the New World in a letter to Florence.
Fourth Voyage
- On June 10, 1503, Vespucci and Gonzal Coelho set off for Brazil while sailing under the Portuguese flag. The fleet dispersed when the mission failed to make any fresh discoveries.
- The Portuguese ship’s commander had mysteriously vanished, much to Vespucci’s dismay. Despite the obstacles and the process, Vespucci managed to find South Georgia and Bahia. He was compelled to abruptly end the journey and return to Lisbon, Portugal, in 1504 shortly after.
- Based on Vespucci’s records, some historians believe Vespucci embarked on his fifth and sixth expeditions with Juan de la Cosa in 1505 and 1507, respectively. According to some, Vespucci’s fourth journey was his last.
America’s Namesake
- A geography book called Cosmographiae Introductio was written at Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, northern France, in 1507.
- One of the book’s writers, German cartographer Martin Waldseemüler, suggested that the recently found Brazilian region of the New World be given the name America, which is the feminine form of the name Amerigo, after Amerigo Vespucci. He made a move to show respect for the finder and give Vespucci the distinction of being named after America.
- Years later, in 1538, working from the maps produced at St-Dié, the cartographer Mercator decided to include the name America on the northern and southern regions of the continent instead of simply the southern one. While the scope of what was considered to be America grew, Vespucci appeared to be given credit for regions that most would agree were originally found by Columbus.
- The first European to set foot in America was Christopher Columbus. Vespucci sailed in 1499, seven years after Columbus first landed in the West Indies. Columbus was one of the last, not the first, explorers to reach the Americas. A courageous party of Vikings headed by Leif Eriksson set foot in North America and founded a colony five hundred years before Columbus.
Final years
- He was granted Spanish citizenship in 1505, and in 1508, he was appointed Pilot Major of Spain, a prestigious position requiring him to use his impressive navigational abilities. Vespucci contributed to the creation, standardization, and recruitment of new pilots.
- He held this position up until his passing on February 22, 1512. At about 58 years old, he passed away in Spain from malaria. In Florence, Vespucci is buried.
- Vespucci’s letters could be more important historically than his discoveries. These letters were the first source of information for Europeans on the freshly discovered continent of the Americas. After the letters were printed, America’s influence quickly spread over all of Europe. The average European had to start thinking about what a brand new continent meant for their present and future at that moment.
- Amerigo Vespucci, an explorer, set off on his first expedition on May 10, 1497. He found the modern-day cities of Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata on his third and most successful expedition. He dubbed South America the New World because he thought he had found a brand-new continent. America was given his name in 1507.
Amerigo Vespucci Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Amerigo Vespucci across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Amerigo Vespucci worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Amerigo Vespucci, who was an Italian explorer, financier, navigator and cartographer who played a prominent role in exploring the New World. It was Vespucci who determined that the newly discovered lands were not part of Asia but instead a separate continent. The continents of North and South America are named after him.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Amerigo Vespucci Facts
- Vespucci Story
- Explore the Truth
- The Expeditions
- The Best Navigator
- Amerigo’s Legacy
- Fill in the Gap
- Crossword Adventure
- Sail Away
- Popular Figure
- The Lost Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Amerigo Vespucci discover?
Amerigo Vespucci, an explorer, set off on his first expedition on May 10, 1497. He found the modern-day cities of Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata on his third and most successful expedition. He dubbed South America the New World because he thought he had found a brand-new continent. America was given his name in 1507.
Who landed first, Columbus or Vespucci?
The first European to set foot in America was Christopher Columbus. Vespucci sailed in 1499, seven years after Columbus first landed in the West Indies.
When did Vespucci discover America?
Vespucci is credited with discovering Cape St. Augustine and the Amazon River on this voyage. Numerous sources date the voyage to 1499, seven years after Columbus first set foot in the Bahamas. Vespucci traveled to the northern region of South America and the Amazon River.
Why is America named after Amerigo Vespucci?
One of the book’s writers, German cartographer Martin Waldseemüler, suggested that the recently found Brazilian region of the New World be given the name America, which is the feminine form of the name Amerigo, after Amerigo Vespucci. He made a move to show respect for the finder and give Vespucci the distinction of being named after America.
Who actually discovered America first?
A courageous party of Vikings headed by Leif Eriksson set foot in North America and founded a colony five hundred years before Columbus.
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