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45-How America Got Its Name

November 9, 2014

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Columbus thought he had discovered a passage to the orient and so the maps of the day showed his discoveries as islands.  It would be the voyage of Vespucci sailing down the eastern side of South America that would cause so much interest.  The map makers labeled the land we know as Brazil with the name “Mundus Novus” or “New World”. With the refinements of charts and maps the New World took on the name “America”.

Below are some of the maps I wanted to share with you.  To truly experience the Mercator globe, go to Harvard University web site

1500 map created by Juan de La Cosa
1500 map created by Juan de La Cosa

 

 

1502 Cantino map

 

1508 Ruysch_map web

 

Ptolemy map of 1513

page 120 lenox globe web

 

Page 147 vinci map1514 web

 

Page 157 mercator map1541 web

 

 

A list of voyages that made of difference to the view of the world made for the crowns of Spain and Portugal.

voyages web

 

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About Terry Noorda

I record a podcast titled "Discovering America" that covers stories, histories about people and events that played apart in the discovering of America and leave the listener with a "I didn't know that feeling." Come along for the ride you won't be disappointed.

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