History of the name “Americas”
The use of the name America for this landmass dates from 1507, where it was used for what is now known as South America. It first appears on a small globe map with twelve time zones, together with the largest wall map made to date, both created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller. These were the first maps to show the Americas as a land mass separate from Asia.
After Americus explored South America, some people call it the Land of Americus, or America: since both Europe and Asia got their namesw from omen. Americus is the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo‘s name, and America is the feminine form of Americus.
Vespucci was apparently unaware of the use of his name to refer to the new landmass, as Waldseemüller's maps did not reach Spain until a few years after his death. Matthias Ringmann may have been misled into crediting Vespucci by the widely published Soderini Letter, a sensationalized version of one of Vespucci's actual letters reporting on the mapping of the South American coast, which glamorized his discoveries and implied that he had recognized that South America was a continent separate from Asia; in fact, it is not known what Vespucci believed on this count, and he may have died believing what Columbus had, that they had reached the East Indies in Asia rather than a new continent. Spain officially refused to accept the name America for two centuries, saying that Columbus should get credit, and Waldseemüller's later maps, after he had ceased collaboration with Ringmann, did not include it; however, usage was established when Gerardus Mercator applied the name to the entire New World in his 1538 world map. Acceptance may have been aided by the "natural poetic counterpart" that the name America made with Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Political division: North America
North America is the northern continent of the Americas. It is formed by tree countries : Canada (capital Otawa) , Mexico (Mexico D.F.) and U.S.A(Washington D.C.) .North America is situated in the Earth's and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. South America lies to the southeast of the continent.
North America has an area of 4.6% of Earth’s surface.As of July 2008, North America’s population was estimated at nearly 529 million people. It is the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa, and the fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The third-largest continent on earth, it lies mostly between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer. It is almost completely surrounded by bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Strait, the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Shaped like an inverted triangle, North America was apparently the first continent to achieve its current approximate size and shape. Its geologic structure is built around a stable platform of Precambrian rock called the Canadian Shield.
Political division: South America
South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. The South American nations that border the Caribbean Sea—including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana—are also known as Caribbean South America.
The word America was coined in 1507 by cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann, after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the lands newly discovered by Europeans were not India, but a New World unknown to Europeans.
South America has an area of almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. Its population as of 2005 has been estimated at more than 371,090,000. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America). South America 's countries are: Colombia(Bogotá) ,Brasil(Brasilia), Ecuador(Quito), Perú(Lima), Chile (Santiago), Argentina(Buenos Aires), Venezuela(Caracas), Surinam (Paramaribo) Bolivia( La Paz) , Paraguay (Asuncion) , y France Guyanne (George Town).
Political division: America Central
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent. Central America consists of the seven states of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Central America is part of the Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot, which extends from Northern Guatemala through central Panama. It borders Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, the North Pacific Ocean to the west; and Colombia to the south-east.
Central America has an area of almost 0.1% of the Earth's surface. As of 2009, its population was estimated at 41,739,000. It has a density of 77 people per square kilometer or 206 people per square mile.
Political division: Caribbean America
The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (most of which are enclosed by the sea), and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America.
Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate, the region comprises more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. These islands, called the West Indies, generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea. These islands are called the West Indies because when Christopher Columbus landed there in 1492 he believed that he had reached the Indies (in Asia).
The geography and climate in the Caribbean region varies. Some islands in the region have relatively flat terrain of non-volcanic origin. These islands include Aruba (possessing only minor volcanic features), Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Saint Croix, The Bahamas or Antigua. Others possess rugged towering mountain-ranges like the islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Dominica, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Thomas, Saint John, Tortola, Grenada, Saint Vincent, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Difference between America Central and Central America
Central America is a tropical isthmus that connects North America to South America. It includes seven countries and many small offshore islands. Consists of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Belize.
Overall, the land is fertile and rugged, and dominated through its heart by a string of volcanic mountain ranges that are punctuated by a few active and dangerous volcanos.
Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres the America Central isthmus is bordered in the northwest by the country of Mexico, and in the southeast by the country of Colombia. In addition, it's bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and numerous bays, gulfs and inlets.
Overall, the land is fertile and rugged, and dominated through its heart by a string of volcanic mountain ranges that are punctuated by a few active and dangerous volcanos.
Positioned in the planet's northern and western hemispheres the America Central isthmus is bordered in the northwest by the country of Mexico, and in the southeast by the country of Colombia. In addition, it's bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and numerous bays, gulfs and inlets.
America Central consists only of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Anglo America: Language
Anglo-America is a region in the Americas in which English is a main language, or one which has significant British historical, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural links. Anglo-America is distinct from Latin America, a region of the Americas where Romance languages namely, Spanish, Portuguese, and variably French are prevalent.
Anglo-America includes the United States and Canada in North America, and the term is frequently used in reference to the two countries together. Despite having a French-speaking majority, Quebec is often considered part of Anglo-America due to historical, geographical, economic, political, and cultural considerations. Other countries composing: the Anglophone Caribbean (including territories of the British West Indies), Belize, Bermuda, and Guyana.
Anglo America: Religion
The Religion in Anglo America is characterized by both a wide diversity in religious beliefs and practices. A majority of persons says that religion plays a very important role in their lives. Many persons identify themselves as Christians, mostly within Protestant and Catholic denominations. Non-Christian religions (including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism), collectively make up about low percent of the adult population.
Anglo America: Economy
The economy of the Anglo American region is richer.
Latin America: Language
In Latin America people use the Spanish and Portuguese languages.
Latin America: Religion
In Latin America the major religion are the Catholics.
Latin America: Economy
In Latin America the economy is poor.
Sources used to write the post
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en junio 5, 2011 en http://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/surgery/america.html
(2011) Maps of the world. Consultado en junio 4, 2011 en
http://mapsof.net/north_america/static-maps/png/north-america-second-level-political-division
(2000) Maps of World. Consultado en junio 7, 2011 en
http://www.mapsofworld.com/southamerica-political-map.htm
(2007) Political division of Central America 2007. Consultado en junio 2, 2011 en
http://www.zonu.com/detail-en/2009-11-16-11112/Political-division-of-Central-America-
2007.htm
l
(2011) Encyclopedia Británica. Consultado en junio 1, 2011 en
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/24969/Anglo-America
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