Amerigo Vespucci

Timeline

1. 1454–1491Florence · TuscanyBorn in Florence to a prominent merchant family, he received a humanist education in his youth and later engaged in trade and finance in Seville and elsewhere, becoming familiar with maritime provisioning and commercial documents, accumulating contacts and experience for his transition to seafaring.
2. 1499–1500Northeast coast of South America · Atlantic coastIn 1499–1500 he took part in a Spanish-funded voyage sailing south along the northeast coast of South America, surveying rivers, products and local inhabitants. Comparing what he saw with the geographical features of Asia, he began to suspect the region was a separate continent.
3. 1501–1512Seville · AndalusiaIn 1501–1502 he was again commissioned by Portugal to voyage to South America, further exploring the coastline. After returning he wrote and circulated sailing letters systematically describing the New World's lands and peoples, influencing European geographers to associate America with his own name.