Amerigo Vespucci

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is best known for demonstrating that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were part of a separate continent, which he referred to as the New World. His letters and maps provided crucial insights into the geography of South America. The name "America" is derived from the Latin version of his name, reflecting his prominent role in the exploration of the continent. Vespucci's work helped shift the European understanding of geography and paved the way for further exploration and colonization.