The First Map to Name AmericaMartin Waldseemüller, world map in twelve woodcut sheets ([Strasbourg?], 1507): the legends on the AmericasHearth Interactive Hearth Library Martin Waldseemüller, Universalis cosmographia secundum Ptholomaei traditionem et Americi Vespucii aliorumque lustrationes ([Strasbourg?], 1507), woodcut world map on 12 sheets. Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, G3200 1507 .W3, the only known surviving copy of the first edition; digital ids g3200.ct000725C (composite) and g3200.ct000725.loc-waldseemuller-1507 Latin Claudius PtolemyGreek astronomer and geographer of Alexandria in the second century CE, whose Geography was the model for European world maps around 1500. Waldseemüller's map of 1507 names him in its title.Amerigo VespucciA Florentine who sailed to the coast of South America for Spain and Portugal around 1500. Printed letters under his name called the lands a new world, and Waldseemüller's map of 1507 named them America after him.VirgilThe Roman poet of the *Aeneid*. Petrarch kept a manuscript of his works with him most of his life and wrote of Laura's death in it.Christopher ColumbusThe Genoese navigator who sailed for Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492 and made four voyages to the Caribbean. Pané and others call him the Admiral.Ferdinand II of AragonKing of Aragon who ruled Spain jointly with his wife, Isabella of Castile, and sponsored Columbus's voyages.Manuel I of PortugalKing of Portugal from 1495, who sent the voyages to India and to the coast of Brazil that Waldseemüller's map credits to him. America (the name)-15 -55 gold and silver The metals European explorers hoped above all to find in the Americas, and asked about by signs from the first meetings.
VNIVERSALIS COSMOGRAPHIA SECVNDVM PTHOLOMÆI TRADITIONEM ET AMERICI VESPVCII ALIORV̄QVE LVSTRATIONES CLAVDII PTHOLOMEI ALEXANDRINI COSMOGRAPHI AMERICI VESPVCII Multi commentum eſſe putarūt quot ab inclyto Poeta dicitᷣ extra ſidera iacere tellurē extra anni ſoliſqꝫ vias vbi cœlifer Athlas Axem humero torquet ſtellis ardentibus aptum. Cum nūc demū ita eſſe liquidū euadat. Eſt enim terra per Columbum regis Caſtiliæ capitaneum atqꝫ Americū Veſputium magni & excellentis ingenij viros inuenta/quę licet maiori ſua parte ſub anni & ſolis via atqꝫ inter tropicos iaceat nihilo tamen minus ad vndeuiginti ferme gradus vltra caprcornum ad polum Antarcticum extra anni & ſolis vias extenditur. In qua quidem magis auri quam alterius cuiuſuis metalli eſſe compertum eſt. Terrarū inſularumqꝫ variarum generalis deſcriptio. etiā quarum vetuſti non meminerunt auctores nup ab anno domini .1497. vſqꝫ ad .1504. bis geminis nauigationibus in mare diſcurſis inuentarꝫ. duabus per fernandum caſtille reliqs vero duabus ī auſtrali ponto p̄ dominum manuelē portugallie ſereniſſi. reges. americo veſputio vno ex naucleris nauium qꝫ prefectis precipue multoꝝ etiam locorum quoruꝫ nulla erat noticia. que nos huic picture ad veram locorum ſcientiam exprimendā ſtudioſe ꝯiunximus. AMERICA TOTA ISTA PROVINCIA INVENTA EST PER MANDATVM REGIS CASTELLE TERRA VLTRA INCOGNITA Iſte inſule per Columbum genuenſem almirantem ex mādato regis Caſtelle inuente ſunt. PARIAS TERRA VLTERI⁹ INCOGNITA OCCEANVS OCCIDENTALIS
A map of the whole world, following the tradition of Ptolemy and the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci and others Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria, geographer Amerigo Vespucci Many people thought the famous Poet's words were a fiction, when he said that a land lies beyond the stars, beyond the paths of the year and the sun, where Atlas, who bears the sky, turns on his shoulder the heavens studded with burning stars. Now at last it has become clear that it is true. For a land has been found by Columbus, captain of the king of Castile, and by Amerigo Vespucci, both men of great and excellent ability. Most of it lies under the path of the year and the sun, between the tropics. But it still reaches about nineteen degrees beyond Capricorn toward the Antarctic pole, beyond the paths of the year and the sun. More gold has been found in it than any other metal. A general description of many lands and islands, including some the ancient writers never mentioned. They were found recently, between the years 1497 and 1504, in four voyages across the sea: two sent by Ferdinand of Castile, and two more, in the southern sea, by Lord Manuel of Portugal, both most serene kings. Amerigo Vespucci was one of the pilots and captains of the ships. Many places are shown that no one knew of before. We have carefully added them to this picture, to give a true knowledge of the places. AMERICA This whole province was found by order of the king of Castile The land beyond is unknown These islands were found by Columbus of Genoa, admiral, by order of the king of Castile. Paria The land further on is unknown The Western Ocean