Amerigo Vespucci (geographer)

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer and navigator in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He is best known for his voyages to the New World, where he played a key role in understanding that the lands discovered by Columbus were part of a separate continent, not Asia as initially thought. His detailed letters and maps helped identify South America as a distinct landmass. The name "America" is derived from his first name, reflecting his impact on geography and exploration in the Age of Discovery, shaping the way we understand the world today.