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Background

Age of Exploration

The letter and the exploration it represents is part of the era known as The Age of Exploration or The Age of Discovery. It began in the 15^th century and continued into the 17^th century and is classified as a time when Europe expanded its knowledge of geography for trade routes and riches. It chronologically overlaps with the Renaissance and shares some of the same values such as a search for provable knowledge. The maritime explorations were often the first contact between many cultures and Europeans. Spain and Portugal later followed by France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands often funded the voyages in hopes of enriching themselves and sometimes for scientific discovery. One impetus for the curiosity of naval exploration began when the Ottoman Empire blocked traditional trade routes such as Constantinople, North Africa, and the Red Sea. Henry the Navigator, a prince of Portugal, began funding voyages for economic benefit and in hopes of a Christian expansion that would contain the spread and growing power of Islam. Notable explorers were Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco de Gama, John Cabot, Pedro Cabal, Ferdinand Magellan, Jaques Cartier, and later Henry Hudson, Herdán Cortés, and Franciso Pizarro. The voyages were possible through certain technological advancements such as astrolabes, magnetic compasses, and triangular sails as well as more reliable maps and mapping systems. Many of the technological knowledge of these advancements were developed elsewhere and borrowed by European crews. The technologies were improved and the grasp of geography grew with further explorations. Ming China was also expanding its naval knowledge during the 1400s, but in 1436 the emperor outlawed more voyages after reaching East Africa. The Age of Exploration challenged existing world views, improved geographic and naval knowledge, and created a global power structure that altered countless communities and cultures. Contact, as Vespucci's letter outlines, was not always a peaceful encounter. Beyond the often violent clashes of the sailor and native peoples upon arrival, the Age of Exploration gave rise to an even more violent system of colonization with disease, forced restructuring of societies, mass displacement of people from the Transatlantic slave trade, and other drastic changes that created an imbalance of power that last for centuries after the Age of Discovery.

Author

Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian sailor and accomplished navigator who made multiple voyages to the Americas under either Portuguese or Spanish funding. He eventually became a Spanish citizen. He developed a relationship with the Medici family through going to France to represent the family before the French king in 1479. His voyages were in last decade of the 15th century and first decade of the 16th century. In 1505 his career on ships ended because he began work in Spain as a consultant.His name was immortalized by German cartographer, Martin Waldseemüller, in 1507 used the word "America" on a map of the new continent. In 1508, he became the chief navigator overseeing voyages and compiling data into maps for Spain. He continued with this well respected job until his death. Vespucci contributed to the Age of Exploration both as an explorer and Spanish official.

The Voyages of Vespucci

The Voyage of 1499 was sponsored by Spain. This voyage was considered the second voyage for centuries until the 20th century when controversy arose because some historians began to believe many of the documents were forgeries, including the documents about what had been believed to be his first voyage. It is debated whether Vespucci made two or four voyages due to this dispute in the records. Historians are confident the voyage of 1499 took place while the reports of a previous journey are dubious. On this journey with four ships, Vespucci traveled to present day Guyana then south to the mouth of the Amazon River and continued south, potentially as far as Cape St. Augustine before turning back. On the journey home, he went to Trinidad and Hispaniola. His other verified voyage of 1501 was sponsored by Portugal. This voyage lead Vespucci to the realization that he had not reached Asia, but instead a "New World." He potentially undertook another voyage in 1504.