Ojeda's first voyage
There is no doubt whatever that Vespucci made a voyage in 1499-1500, along with Alonzo de Ojeda and the great pilot Juan[Pg 109] de la Cosa, but whether this may be styled his first or his second must be left to the intelligence of the reader, for the historians are at odds themselves, and it might seem presumptuous in the biographer to assume to decide.
North America from the globe of Johann Schöner
In a pamphlet accompanying "the earliest known globe of Johann Schöner," made in 1515, the new region is described as the "fourth part of the globe named after its discoverer, Americus Vespucius, who found it in 1497." Vespucci did not find it, and he never made the claim that he discovered more than is given in his letters; but this misstatement by another caused him to be accused of falsifying the dates of his voyages in order to rob Columbus of his desserts.
Routes of the discoverers
Routes of the discoverers
Map of 1515
Map of 1515, showing what some geographers then supposed North America to be. This is one of the earliest maps on which the name America occurs. It will be notices that at that time it was confined to South America.
De Soto's Expedition 1539-1542
De Soto's Expedition 1539-1542 The outlines and names of states are given for convenience in tracing De Soto's course.
Section of Frobisher's Map of the World
Section of Frobisher's map of the world, 1576. Copied from Hakluyt. It shows what the English explorer thought America was.
The World as known shortly before the sailing of Columbus
The World as known shortly before the sailing of Columbus