Amerigo Vespucci

9 Pages 2277 Words

d on his aptitude and educational training, Amerigo had the qualities to become the next Vespucci to advance family business. “Fifteenth-Century intellectuals were more disposed to respect learning of the past than to pursue independent research.” [Pohl 18]. . The cultural environment of Florence and the availability of printed books with many opportunities led Amerigo Vespucci to the sea and to complete the voyages Columbus failed to complete in the discovery of the mainland now know as the America’s.
In this century, Cosmography was a theoretical science that included physics and astronomy and geography the practical science became an interest to Amerigo. His interest in these sciences was to prove very beneficial to him at some later point in his life. The greatest known scholar at that time on these two sciences was a man by the name of Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli. He was the most advanced person in cosmography and geography in Florence and also influenced Christopher Columbus in his search for the Orient. Although there is no proof of Vespucci and Toscanelli ever meeting, it is assumed that they probably met and were acquainted. Even if they never met, there is a chance that Amerigo was informed of Toscanelli works by his uncle which would have sparked his interest in a his idea of reaching Asia by sailing west. Being from an aristocratic and wealthy family, the Vespucci family had important contacts with the royal family of Spain. They had a long friendship with Spanish royalty. This will become important later in the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci.
“In 1482, Ser Natasagio Vespucci died and so did Toscanelli which led Amerigo to become the chief money-earner for his family.” [Pohl 27]. Trained in business, Amerigo handled all the financial affairs of the family. Being trained in the affairs of business, Amerigo was given the duties of manager of the Medici family fortune.
This was to take up his time for sixteen years o...