In honor of whom is America named? Who called America America

If you ask a question in honor of whom America is named, many will respond without hesitation - Amerigo Vespucci. But is it really so? Who actually discovered the "New World"? Historians have long sought an answer to these questions. Let's see who called America America and who first discovered it?

Historical Injustice

It is very difficult to answer, in honor of whom America is named. After all, for many centuries, some of the facts were hidden, and some documents were lost. However, very often in print media you can find articles that speak about historical injustice. According to many pioneers of the new continent was Christopher Columbus. However, his name was never immortalized, and America was named after another traveler.

But experts say that Columbus did not open the "New World". And there is no injustice. The goal of Christopher Columbus's expeditions was to search the West Indies. For this discovery, he received a laurel branch. The traveler was looking for new trade routes so that ships could not swim by the troubled Asia at that time. So why Columbus? He did not name America America. And this is a fact.

Amerigo Vespucci

After Columbus there were still a lot of travelers who were eager to open new lands. Amerigo Vespucci followed him. He often traveled along the eastern and northern shores of the new continent. It is worth noting that the cards of Christopher Columbus practically did not change anything in the maps of Magellan. As for the documents of Amerigo Vespucci, they made it possible to draw an accurate picture of America as a new continent.

It is worth noting that the travelers were good friends. Amerigo Vespucci often helped Columbus equip expeditions. According to contemporaries, this man was clever, kind, honest and talented. Thanks to him were created not only notes about new lands, but also about their plant and animal life, the starry sky, the customs of the local population. Many believe that some facts have been slightly exaggerated.

In honor of what a traveler named America

Amerigo Vespucci never aspired to take the place of a friend. He did not claim the laurels of Christopher Columbus. After the new continent was named, the sons of the discoverer did not even show Amerigo claims. In his time, Vespucci suggested calling the discovered continent "New Light". However, it was not his fault that Martin Waldzemüller from Lorraine - a cartographer - declared Amerigo the discoverer of the fourth part of the world. This man was one of the best specialists of the time. It was he Vespucci who transferred his works and all the materials. This fact influenced the choice of the final name for the continent. As a result, the "New World" became America.

After 30 years, this name became official and universally recognized. It was indicated even in the maps of Mercator and extended to lands located in the north. But this is only one version of the one in honor of whom America was named. There are other versions of history.

Another version

So in honor of whom is America named? There are several versions. The latter even has documentary evidence. Together with the expeditions of Vespucci and Columbus, another seafarer, Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot), a native of Barcelona , traveled several times to the shores of the new continent. His travels were financed by philanthropist Ricardo Americo. Expedition Cabot reached the shores of Labrador. The team of this traveler set foot on the land of a new continent earlier than Amerigo Vespucci. Cabot is the first navigator who compiled an accurate map of the coast of North America: from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland.

Specialists suggest that the new lands were named after patron Ricardo Americo. In addition, there are official marks in the Bristol calendar, which date back to 1497. The documents indicate that the merchants from Barcelona were found new land, which arrived there on the ship "Matthew". This happened on June 24 - the day of St. John the Baptist.

And maybe everything was different?

Some historians believe that America was discovered long before the travels of Columbus, Vespucci and Cabot. The first mention of the new lands, in their opinion, is subsidized by the 4th century BC. Here the Greeks and Romans visited. There are myths in the Aztecs, which refers to the bearded white gods who came from the east. However, in addition to the legends, nothing remained.

There is also a version that the Vikings came first to the lands of America, and it happened about 500 years before Columbus travels. As proof of this, documents are given, which refer to several settlements that were left in Greenland.

Finally

Now you know, in honor of whom America is named. There is evidence that Vespucci changed his nicknames and began to call himself in honor of the new continent. All these versions are proven and have the right to exist. Hence it follows that Christopher Columbus was not offended by anyone. After all, America was open before him.