|
Biography: Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer born in 1454 after whom America was named . He approached the American mainland in 1497 and although he thought that it was an undiscovered land , Columbus had infact reached America 5 yrs earlier but thought he had arrived at islands off the coast of Asia . He had a sagacious mind , which means he was scientific . After having an interest in geography, and cosmography, he became a business representative for Spain.Amerigo's father was Nastagio Vespucci, and his uncle was the learned Dominican Georgio Antonio Vespucci. Amerigo spent his early life in the banking firm of Lorenzo Di Pier FrancescDe' Medici of Florence. Vespucci received his first instruction from his uncle Giorgio Antonio , a Platonic philosopher who was a teacher of the greater part of the Florentine nobility.
|
Earlier Life
Amerigo cultivated the study of literature, including that of the Latin language, as is shown by a small autograph codex in the Biblioteca Ricardiana of Florence, entitled "Dettati da mettere in latino" at the end of which there is written the following: "This booklet was written by Amerigo Se Anastagio Vespucci."
He wrote a letter in Latin to his father, dated 19th October, 1476, in which he gives an account of his studies. Possibly Vespucci had relations with Toscanelli, who, as is known, died in 1482, two years after Amerigo left for Spain. Thereafter, Amerigo devoted himself to the study of physics, geometry, astronomy, and cosmography, in which sciences he made rapid progress
Continue................His Voyages
|
