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Who was Amerigo Vespucci?
http://www.studyworld.com/Amerigo_Vespucci.htm
I would appear that Amerigo Vespucci, who the word "America" comes from was a Florentine financier who financed several voyages to the new world. It wouls also appear that he may have personally had made his first voyage in 1497. The website is quoted as saying this however: In 1499 Vespucci was said to have made his second voyage with Alonso de Ojeda as the captain. This voyage could be backed by a great deal of evidence and is supposed to have occurred. The watchman finally did spot land, the Cape Verde Islands, and this is the first time anyone has been purposely to the "New World." On this first journey Vespucci explored the north eastern coast of South America and also came in contact with Cuba, Hispaniola, and the Bahaman Islands. Vespucci got back to Spain in 1500 and told everyone about his findings of the land and the people. On May 19, 1501 Vespucci left from the ports of the sponsoring Spain on his third voyage. On this voyage Vespucci was second in charge behind Gonocalo Coelho, another one of Spains' explorers. They explored on this expedition the Cape Santo Agostinho at the shoulder of present day Brazil. This voyage was one of the less successful because they explored only limited water area. On the fourth, and last, voyage Vespucci explored more of South America. In 1503, on this journey, led by Amerigo Vespuccci himself, the captain and crew explored the south eastern side of South America. They ran along the coast and visited such places as Cape Soo Roque, Guanabara Bay, Rio de la Plata, Cape Santo Agostinho, San Julian and spotted the Falkland Islands. His crew returned back to Spain in 1504 and told their story to mapmakers to put on the maps. After the findings of the "New World" a mapmaker suggested they call it America, after the knowing founder. Martin Waldseemuller a German mapmaker was one of the first to believe that Vespucci was the first European to reach the "New World." In 1507, he suggested they call it America and soon this name was used throughout and eventually used officially in the naming of the continent. It can be concluded that, though Columbus was probibly the first to arrive in what is now known as the Western Hemisphere (unless we exclude prior expeditions such as the Native Americans, the Celts and the Norse), Amerigo Vespucci was the first to know just where he was going.
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