Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci
  By: Tsion Mekonnen        
Amerigo Vespucci was born in Ognissanti, Florence, Italy on March 9, 1451.Amerigo Vespucci was born on March 18,1454 in Florence ,Italy.   He was the third child of Sergionastagio Vespucci and Lisa di Giovanni Mini. His father was a notary (certifier of documents) of Money Changer's Guild and the Vespucci family was considered one of the most cultured and respected families of Florence.
Vespucci, moved to Spain in 1492 and opened a business to finance ship voyages. Vespucci was most likely in Spain when Columbus returned from his first triumphant voyage. As more voyages were planned, Vespucci assembled gear, ships, crews, and funds. Eventually, Vespucci wearied of hearing others describe the wonders of the “New World.”He resolved to see these lands for himself. When and how often Vespucci sailed   at least two voyages between 1499 and 1504.
The first, for Spain, sailed along the northern part of South America and into the Caribbean. The second expedition, this time in the service of Portugal, sailed south along the eastern coast of South America. During these voyages, Vespucci realized that the giant land mass was not Asia, but an extensive new region previously unknown to Europeans. Vespucci wrote an account of his voyages in a pamphlet.
He was an avid map collector and map maker. Toscanelli had visions of sailing west to the Indies, so he planted in Amerigo to sail westward. Amerigo followed news of explorations and when Columbus was preparing for his third voyage, Amerigo helped outfit his ships. The next year, in 1499 he went exploring. According to some historians, Amerigo went as a tourist on an expedition. Others say he was expected to make astronomical observations and was put in charge of the ships. Amerigo sailed from Cadiz, Spain with Alonso de Ojeda who had sailed with Columbus on his second voyage. When the fleet reached the northern coast of South America in twenty-four days, Amerigo and de Ojeda...