AMERIGO VESPUCCI
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Amerigo Vespucci was born in Florence, Italy on the 9th of March, 1454. Vespucci had a privileged upbringing, and was taught by his uncle, Fra Giorgio Antonio Vespucci, who was a Dominican friar. Unlike his brothers, Amerigo did not go to university, instead he became a clerk at a local commercial house. In the role Vespucci was well liked and trusted by Lorenzo Medici, who became the business owner. As a result, Vespucci was sent as a confidential agent to the Spanish office in Cadiz where he assessed the manager’s dealings. Upon returning to Italy, Medici was impressed with Vespucci’s work.
In 1495, navigator licences were approved for the West Indies and Vespucci was hired as a provision contractor. Vespucci was important in this role, and is known to have provided beef supplies for at least one of Christopher Columbus’ voyages. |
Amerigo Vespucci
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During his role as a provision contractor, Vespucci was invited to observe on a number of voyages. Vespucci enjoyed the travels very much and as a result went on many more. In 1508, Vespucci was awarded the position of chief of navigation of Spain and in this role he had the responsibility of planning the route for voyages to the Indies. On one of Vespucci’s voyages, his team discovered that there was more land beyond Brazil and the West Indies. In fact, there was much more. Before the Vespucci voyage, it was thought that Brazil was Asia’s most easterly landmass, however, he discovered that there was another super continent beyond and it was called America, after Amerigo himself.
On his travels across the world Vespucci developed navigational skills which helped later explorers, and he drew up maps of then unknown places allowing people to discover more about the unknown world. It is thanks largely to Vespucci’s travels that the world map that we have today could be drawn up so completely. Additionally, Vespucci wrote many letters on his voyages and it could be argued that these writings are of more historical importance than the discoveries themselves. This is because thanks to the letters the people back in Europe learnt about the new continent of America for the first time- opening up new possibilities for trade and improving geographical understanding.
Vespucci retuned to Europe in 1508. He became a Spanish citizen and was awarded piolet major by the Spanish king for his discoveries. Vespucci died in Spain on February 22nd 1512.
On his travels across the world Vespucci developed navigational skills which helped later explorers, and he drew up maps of then unknown places allowing people to discover more about the unknown world. It is thanks largely to Vespucci’s travels that the world map that we have today could be drawn up so completely. Additionally, Vespucci wrote many letters on his voyages and it could be argued that these writings are of more historical importance than the discoveries themselves. This is because thanks to the letters the people back in Europe learnt about the new continent of America for the first time- opening up new possibilities for trade and improving geographical understanding.
Vespucci retuned to Europe in 1508. He became a Spanish citizen and was awarded piolet major by the Spanish king for his discoveries. Vespucci died in Spain on February 22nd 1512.