"Waldseemüller's large world map was the most exciting product of that research effort, and included data gathered during Amerigo Vespucci's voyages of 1501–1502 to the New World. Waldseemüller christened the new lands "America" in recognition of Vespucci 's understanding that a new continent had been uncovered as a result of the voyages of Columbus and other explorers in the late fifteenth century". (From above link).

"Amerigo Vespucci (March 9, 1454 -February 22, 1512) was an Italian merchant, explorer and cartographer. He played a senior role in two voyages which explored the east coast of South America between 1499 and 1502. On the second of these voyages he discovered that South America extended much further south than previously known by Europeans. This convinced him that this land was part of a new continent, a bold contention at a time when other European explorers crossing the Atlantic Ocean thought they were reaching Asia.

Vespucci's voyages became widely known in Europe after two accounts attributed to him were published between 1502 and 1504.[1] In 1507, Martin Waldseemüller produced a world map on which he named the new continent "America" after Vespucci's first name, Amerigo. In an accompanying book, Waldseemüller published one of the Vespucci accounts, which led to criticism that Vespucci was trying to usurp Christopher Columbus's glory. However, the rediscovery in the 18th century of other letters by Vespucci has led to the view that the early published accounts were fabrications, not by Vespucci, but by others."

From WIkipedia.

It is interesting to note, from the above, that Vespucci had explored South America, and had first suggested its extents; buthe had not gone to North America.

Which means, Canadians and USA-ians notwthstanding, that their continent was named after south america, and not the other way around.

Humility is a wonderful handmaiden to destiny, n'est-ce pas?


A