Amerigo Vespucci and the Naming of America

The continent of "America" is named not after Christopher Columbus, but rather his contemporary navigator and explorer, Amerigo Vespucci-and this book tells his story, and how his name came to be given to the New World. Drawing heavily upon Vespucci's own writings, this work provides a little-known insight into the background, voyages, discoveries and life of the Florence-born explorer, who ended his life as the "pilot navigator" of Spain. In that position-the most senior post in charge of mapping out the new world-Vespucci's genius was acknowledged across Europe, and the accuracy of his maps superseded all others. Vespucci not only mapped out vast areas of the New World, but also personally undertook at least four major voyages of discovery himself, working alternatively for the Spanish and Portuguese crowns. Never taking any personal credit or wealth, Vespucci's low-key approach meant that he was overshadowed by the more outgoing explorers of his age-men such as Columbus-yet, as his papers show, he knew them all and provided much valuable knowledge to all those who asked him. Finally, in a move which would have been as much a surprise to himself as anyone else, the continents of both North and South America were named after him-because of a strange quirk of history, described in full in this book.