Naming America Open Response

Amerigo Vespucci explored parts of the coast of South America and helped Europeans recognize that these lands were not part of Asia but belonged to a previously unknown continent. This passage introduces students to Vespucci’s childhood in Florence, Italy, his interests in geography and astronomy, and the voyages that took him across the Atlantic Ocean.

This worksheet explores Vespucci’s observations of the coastline, plants, animals, and stars he encountered during his travels. Readers learn how his letters describing a “New World” became popular in Europe and eventually inspired mapmaker Martin Waldseemüller to use the name “America” on a map. Students practice identifying important discoveries, understanding cause and effect, and examining how exploration and written accounts influenced the way Europeans understood the world.