The Letters Of Amerigo Vespucci

In today’s world hearing about a new discovery seems like an everyday thing. With development of new technologies and constant advancements in the sciences there is constant talk of the next new thing and millions of ways to advertise it to gain exposure. In 1503, this was not the case. Discovery came at a slower pace and those who explored the realms of the unknown had to convince everyone else that their discovery meant something. Those who were successful in their efforts were celebrated and would forever have a major spot in the world’s history. Amerigo Vespucci was a man of great confidence and had a certain desire for escapades. He went on many journeys across the world, discovering new lands while jotting down the things he dealt with …show more content…
References to the native’s nudity throughout their life are discussed. A detailed description is given about their appearance that is nothing like anything the common European has ever seen. The description given about the natives was that they were well built, with long black hair with large piercings through their lips, nose, and ears (Vespucci, The Letters of Amerigo Vespucci). These “new” and different humans are what would draw the merchants in. He then focuses more on these people’s exotic mannerisms. These natives are described as “gentle and tractable.” This is written to appeal to the merchants specifically (Vespucci, The Letters of Amerigo Vespucci). Vespucci understands that this could be a land that could potentially be conquered or controlled and to tempt the merchants’ interests he lets him know that these people can be easily controlled. References to the native’s nudity throughout their life are discussed. A detailed description is given about their appearance that is nothing like anything the common European has ever …show more content…
Witnessing people eat other people may be vulgar and actually may have been horrifying at the time but one author suggests that there was some hyperbole to exaggerate just how much cannibalism was seen. Michael J. Schreffler, author of “Vespucci Rediscovers America: The Pictorial Rhetoric of Cannibalism in Early Modern Culture” refers to European texts when he says, “although the practice of cannibalism was always suspected of American cultures, it was almost never witnessed” (Schreffler 304). He refers to Vespucci’s first voyage specifically where Vespucci says he has discovered a race of people known as “Cannibals.” Vespucci goes on to say that these people “live off human flesh” Schreffler goes on to say that Vespucci was so sure of this practice but lack of evidence shows that he may have not even seen any cannibalism actually happen (Schreffler 304). The author is suggesting that was a rhetorical strategy to tell the Europeans things they could not necessarily disprove. Vespucci may have used such exaggerations to highlight the differences between the natives and Europeans as he did throughout his