There are several disputes involving the origin of the name of the American continent. According to historical accounts, the name America comes from a tribute paid to an Italian named Amerigo Vespucci, an explorer who lived between 1454 and 1512.
Thus, the homage was no longer paid to Christopher Columbus, who would be genuinely the discoverer of such lands. When Columbus reached America, more precisely in the part where Central America is today, he thought he had reached the Indies. For this reason, many historians have given the credit of the discovery to Amerigo Vespucci, for having been the first navigator to affirm and disclose - based on the descriptions made during the trip - that the lands that Columbus had reached belonged to a new continent.
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Vespucci's statements gained credence in Europe, and were recognized, however, Amerigo died in the year 1512, without imagining what his name had been given to the continent.
By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "The Origin of the Name America"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/a-origem-nome-america.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
