The Americas North America Central America South America Languages of the Americas Indigenous peoples of the Americas Archaeology of the Americas Population history of American indigenous peoples
Google

The Americas

The Americas commonly refers to the lands of the Western hemisphere, consisting of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions.

The term is a relatively recent, less ambiguous alternative to the term America, which may refer to either the entire landmass or the United States of America. The former, and original, usage to describe what is sometimes considered a single continent or super continent is deprecated for clarity, for which the Americas is used to collectively refer to the landmass and various regions of it. When used to describe a single landmass, analogous terms to America or (the) Americas are Eurasia, which consists of Europe and Asia collectively, and Eurafrasia, which is Eurasia and Africa.

gothic art sculpture and painting    gramophone record    historical and cultural context    history    history  

The earliest known use of the name America for the greater landmass dates from 1507. It appears on a globe and a large map created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, explains that the name was derived from the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form, America, as the other continents all have Latin feminine names. However, as Dr. Basil Cottle (Author, Dictionary of Surnames, 1967) points out, new countries or continents are never named after a person's first name, always after their second name. Thus, America should really have become Vespucci Land or Vespuccia if the Italian explorer really gave his name to the newly discovered continent. Christopher Columbus, who had first brought the continents' existence to the attention of Renaissance era voyagers, had died in 1506 (believing, to the end, that he'd discovered and conquered part of India) and could not protest Waldseemüller's decision.

  history    history of computing    history of earth    House   how the web works  

A few alternative theories regarding the landmass' naming have been proposed, but none of them has achieved any widespread acceptance. One alternative first proposed by a Bristol antiquary and naturalist, Alfred Hudd, was that America is derived from Richard Amerike, a merchant from Bristol, who is believed to have financed John Cabot's voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. Supposedly, Bristol fishermen had been visiting the coast of North America for at least a century before Columbus' voyage and Waldseemüller's maps are alleged to incorporate information from the early English journeys to North America. The theory holds that a variant of Amerike's name appeared on an early English map (of which however no copies survive) and that this was the true inspiration for Waldseemüller.

ibm pc keyboard    important buildings    indigenous peoples of the americas    internet and the workplace    internet and the workplace  

Another theory, first advanced by Jules Marcou in 1875 and later recounted by novelist Jan Carew, is that the name America derives from the district of Amerrique in Nicaragua. The gold-rich district of Amerrique was purportedly visited by both Vespucci and Columbus, for whom the name became synonymous with gold. According to Marcou, Vespucci later applied the name to the New World, and even changed the spelling of his own name from Alberigo to Amerigo to reflect the importance of the discovery.

laptop computer   louis kahn    marginalism    market value definitions    Mathematics

Vespucci's role in the naming issue, like his exploratory activity, is unclear and most probably a tale. Some sources say that he was unaware of the widespread use of his name to refer to the new landmass. Others hold that he promulgated a story that he had made a secret voyage westward and sighted land in 1491, a year before Columbus. If he did indeed make such claims, they backfired, and only served to prolong the ongoing debate on whether the "Indies" were really a new land, or just an extension of Asia.
Nofeerentals.com
Apartment rental NY NYC, Rental apartments in New York city Nofeerentals.com has rental apartments and provides no fee apartment rental in downtown Manhattan New York City near New York University and all Manhattan
http://www.nofeerentals.com/index.asp

lansend.com: Microsoft Certified Computer consultants in New York, NY
Microsoft Certified Computer consultants providing computer and network consulting services in New York ,NY Manhattan Queens, Lan Wan  Networking VPN.
http://www.lansend.com
 
NotasInc.com
Colombian crafts, handmade handicraft, unique gifts
Unique gifts & handmade handicrafts handcrafted by Colombian artisans. Stained glass paintings, embossed ceramic paintings, jute handicrafts, leather sculptures, hand embroidered cloth & tapestry
http://www.notasinc.com/index.htm

Quiktea
Authentic Indian Tea, Very tastea , Very Indian- Instant Chai
QuikFoods currently has QuikTea - an Instant Chai, QuikCafe - Instant Coffee & Chicory Blend with Milk, and Diets. We've also put our top flavors in single serving foil and are available in 3 pouch box, 20 pouch box, and 1KG foil bags - Great for vending services
http://www.quiktea.com/index.cfm

Custom furniture slipcovers and readymade futon covers at Slipcovershop.com
Cut Fabric by the Yard Ready Made Slipcovers furniture slipcovers wingback slipcovers dining chair slipcovers futon covers Skirted Slipcovers fitted mattress slipcovers daybed covers Bed Covers Custom Made Slipcovers
 http://www.slipcovershop.com

princess gemstones
Links The Americas North America Central America South America Languages of the Americas Indigenous peoples of the Americas Archaeology of the Americas Population history of American indigenous peoples