Amerigo Vespucci Research Report Essay Example

and was involved along with Berardi. During this time, Vespucci remained in the employment of the Medici family in Spain and learned about the explorers' search for a route to the Northwest Passage to the Indies. Vespucci helped prepare Christopher Columbus's ships for his second expedition in 1493. After Berardi's death in 1496, Vespucci took on the role of manager at the Seville Agency. In 1497, King Ferdinand of Spain granted Amerigo Vespucci permission to explore, and on May 10th of that year, Vespucci set sail on his first voyage.

On April 10th, Vespucci arrived in Guiana and returned to Cadiz, Spain on October 10th. Later, he expressed his desire to sail to Cape Verde with Alonzo de Ojeda; however, this particular journey was under the services of Portugal rather than his previous trip. Serving as the navigator for four Spanish ships, Vespucci performed exceptionally well during his second voyage and first time navigating in the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast. They explored Florida and the Chesapeake Bay before sailing further south where Vespucci witnessed Guanabara Bay. Unfortunately, details about the rest of their voyage were not recorded.

Vespucci claims to have been the first European to discover Rio de la Plate. After returning to Spain in September 1500, he fell ill with quart an ague, causing his third expedition to be unsuccessful. However, in 1501, after recovering from his illness, he embarked on his third voyage to explore Cape Verde. Departing from Lisbon, he sailed to Brazil and, along with other scholars, concluded that Christopher Columbus had not discovered Asia but a New World.

Martin Waldseemller suggested naming this newly discovered land "ab Americo

Inventorequasi Americi terram sive Americam" (meaning: from Amerigo the discoveras if it were the land of Americus or America)". Initially designated for South America, the name eventually extended to North America as well. Vespucci returned to Lisbon in September 1502 and on his fourth voyage sailed for Cape Verde and America. Instead, he discovered Bahia and the Island of South Georgia while serving Portugal.

On June 18th, 1504, at the age of 50, Amerigo Vespucci returned to Lisbon, Portugal.

Amerigo Vespucci, who married Maria Cerezo and became a naturalized Spaniard, embarked on his fifth voyage in 1505 and then followed with his sixth expedition in 1507, both alongside Juan de la Cosa. Martin Waldseemuller, the one who proposed naming the landmass America, crafted the initial map featuring the name America rather than New World. Following these voyages, Amerigo Vespucci did not partake in any further expeditions and passed away on February 22nd, 1512, in Seville. It is important to note that Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America instead of Amerigo Vespucci. Nonetheless, Amerigo Vespucci believed that Columbus had indeed stumbled upon a New World rather than Asia.

Despite Christopher Columbus dying with the belief that he had discovered Asia, it was Amerigo Vespucci who was correct. Vespucci not only realized that what Columbus had actually found was America, but he also went on multiple expeditions to discover new places. He is credited with founding Guianna's mainland, Cape St. Augustine, and the Amazon River. Additionally, he discovered Bahia and the islands of South Georgia. These achievements make Amerigo Vespucci the greatest explorer among all others. Had Amerigo not made the realization that America was not Asia, it could

have been named Columbia or even The New Asia.