Why did Amerigo Vespucci go on voyages?

Find out more about the voyages of Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci, including how his exploration of the New World led him to become America's namesake, ... While Vespucci did not start out commanding the expedition, when Portuguese officers asked him to take charge of the voyage he agreed. read more

Navigator and explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the third son in a cultured family, was born on March 9, 1451, (some scholars say 1454) in Florence, Italy. Although born in Italy, Vespucci became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 1505. read more

It was at the invitation of king Manuel I of Portugal, that Vespucci participated as observer in several voyages that explored the east coast of South America between 1499 and 1502. read more

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born merchant and explorer who took part in early voyages to the New World on behalf of Spain around the late 15th century. By that time, the Vikings had established settlements in present-day North America as early as 1,000 A.D. and Christopher Columbus had already “discovered” several Caribbean and Central American islands, yet it’s Vespucci’s name that prevailed. read more