Map that named America is a puzzle for researchers

reuters ^ | 12-03-2007 | David Alexander

[WOBBLY BOB]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The only surviving copy of the 500-year-old map that first used the name America goes on permanent display this month at the Library of Congress, but even as it prepares for its debut, the 1507 Waldseemuller map remains a puzzle for researchers.

Why did the mapmaker name the territory America and then change his mind later? How was he able to draw South America so accurately? Why did he put a huge ocean west of America years before European explorers discovered the Pacific?

[michigander]

Click for a larger image.

[BGHater]

Great post, thanks.

[fishtank]

BFLR: I’m waiting for some smart Freepers to add some insight here...

[wagglebee]

GGG Ping

[redstateconfidential]

Its all been done before,Atlantis, Mu, everything.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Interesting.

[WOBBLY BOB]

[agere_contra]

Americi (or Amerigo) Vespucci, after whom America is named, is shown on the top right of the map.

[null and void]

Yes I am.

*shifts eyes left, then right*

But how did you know???

[From many - one.]

Silk road and other trade routes probably gave info about the Pacific, but the west coast of South America is unexplained if one continues to insist on no pre-Columbian contact by places like China, Japan and India.

[michigander]

[Leg Olam]

The name of an Indian tribe and of a district in Nicaragua called Amerrique, this district — rich in gold — had been visited by both Columbus and Vespucci, who then made this name known in Europe. For both explorers the words Amerrique and gold became synonymous. Subsequently, Vespucci changed his Christian name from Alberico to Amerigo.

[okie01]

That large island off the NE coast of Siberia -- where the Chukot Peninsula is accurately placed -- bears a strong resemblance to Alaska. Even with a suggestion of the Aleutian chain...

[AnalogReigns]

A Chinese emperor’s fleet supposedly circumnavigated the globe before Magellan. If so, and due to Italy’s trade with China in the 1300s & 1400s, perhaps the map maker had heard of an ocean beyond the Americas.

[shekkian]

That’s a big red dot, if it can be seen from space.

[michigander]

You can zoom in quite close here.

[willgolfforfood]

The map seems to depict a large mountain range on the western edge of north america. That’s also quite interesting.

[LexBaird]

That large island off the NE coast of Siberia -- where the Chukot Peninsula is accurately placed -- bears a strong resemblance to Alaska.

It's supposed to be Japan, which was known via trade.

[scan59]

Good link. Interesting.