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World History A - Essay Assignment
Letter of Amerigo Vespucci
America, is considered to be the undiscovered place according to Europeans before 1500s. It was actually the land where European called ‘New World’- it was until letter of Amerigo Vespucci has been published in Florence during 1505-1506. Vespucci himself as an Italian explorer, born in the city of Florence and is known to have been through number of voyages. Vespucci letter, was written to Pier Soderini; the Gonfalonier of Republic of Florence during the time; the letter consisted of mainly his experience, in storytelling style- about his first voyage to the New World which people believes to be America in modern days. America is basically the …show more content…
As my own opinion believes that all human beings are ‘naked race’ not just indigenous people of the new world. We as human being did not born with clothes, therefore clothing is just a tool which helps protecting us from surrounding environments, or even express our wealth and personality; indigenous people of the new world might not even require that. By using the term ‘race’ seeming that Vespucci has looked down upon people of the new world as less-developed or even in subhuman category. Vespucci go on and describe the characteristic of the indigenous people, as their skin color are red and were compared to ‘a lion’s mane’; while also mentioning that if these people of ‘naked race’ were clothed up, they might be as white as the Europeans- this again applies Eurocentric point of view believing that everyone are born with white skin. Vespucci also emphasized many times throughout the letter that native people were swimming experts, as most of the time they can swim to his ship for very long distance without having to hold on to something, also stating that their manner of life involves hunting from the sea, as fishes are being used for many benefit. Mentioning about manner of life, indigenous people seems to live with simplicity of life, they do not have possession over luxurious items, even gold, living as simple as they can and required no specific manner, there were no breakfast, lunch, nor dinner- they will eat only when they are hungry. Basic living items from the European standard were not required in the new world, people eats on the ground without using spoon or fork, sleep on nettings. There were no laws, no judicial system because they do not require one, parents does not or barely punish their children-