Who Discovered America?

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the background and history of Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci. The paper attempts to answer the question of why Columbus is so well know and Vespucci is often overlooked in the presentation of historical facts and in popular culture itself. The paper compares and contrasts these two men and explains why although both men achieved great things, Vespucci never gained the fame that Columbus achieved. The paper shows how their respective achievements differ in their ability to provide exciting source material for tales of bravery and adventure. The paper also dispels popular myths about Columbus.

Outline:
Introduction
Columbus and Vespucci Compared
Justification for Columbus Day?
Why Isn't Vespucci Famous?
Vespucci Also Discovered America
Vespucci's Claim to Discovering America Before Columbus
Honors Afforded Columbus and Vespucci in Life
The Knights of Columbus
Dispelling Myths About Columbus
Closing Thoughts

From the Paper:

"Columbus started on his second voyage in 1493 The first land sighted, and on November 3 of that year, he reached and discovered the Caribbean Islands and Jamaica. Columbus started his third voyage in 1498, discovering the Island of Trinidad which was so named by him, but falsely believed by him to be a portion of Asia as before.
"As the years went by, Columbus eventually found himself placed under arrest and jailed for allegations of mistreatment of the natives of the lands he explored and discovered, although these charges were eventually dropped and Columbus freed (Order Of The Sons Of Italy In America). By 1502, the year of Columbus' last voyage, he was in poor physical an mental health, and as a result, the voyage suffered."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Amerigo Vespucci. ThinkQuest Learning Library. 9 Mar. 2006 <http://http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/vespucci.html>.
• Christopher Columbus-A Biography. 2004. Renaissance Men Online. 9 Mar. 2006 <http://http://historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwcolumbus.htm?PM=n3100801d.
• Halsall, Paul. Amerigo Vespucci Sourcebook. Fordham University, 1998.
• Knights of Columbus Website. 9 Mar. 2006 http://www.kofc.org.
• Order Of The Sons Of Italy In America. "Columbus-Fact vs. Fiction." (1992).

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