The Cartograph Martin Waldseemüller (also called Hylacomilus and Ilacomilus) (* Radolfzell ca.1470, † St. Dié[Lothringia] around 1518/1520) edited together with his friend, the philolog Matthias Ringmann (* Vogesia 1482, † Schlettstadt 1511), a big worldmap (" Universalis cosmographia") printed in St. Dié 1507. The map was dedicated to Emperor Maximilian.
On the map the new world was called America, cause the both friends had the opinion, that Amerigo Vespucci (* Florenz 1451, † Sevilla 1512) had discovered it. The idea to this naming came from Ringmann, who around 1503/1504 during a stay in Italy had gained some insight in the process of the explorations, which he only half understood.At a later map they Waldseemüller corrected his error and named South America "Terra Nova". The correction couldn't change te final issue. |
