What was Amerigo Vespucci credited for in terms of geographic discovery?

Amerigo Vespucci is primarily credited for providing critical insight regarding the geography of the New World. Unlike Christopher Columbus, who believed he had reached the eastern outskirts of Asia, Vespucci argued that the lands discovered by Columbus were not part of Asia but rather a separate continent, previously unknown to Europeans. His voyages took him along the coast of South America, and through his detailed letters and accounts, he helped to clarify the understanding of the geography of the western hemisphere.

Vespucci’s contributions to cartography and his observations of the landscapes and cultures he encountered led to the acknowledgment that these lands were indeed a new continent. This realization was significant enough that the continent was later named "America" in his honor. By distinguishing the New World from Asia, Vespucci played a crucial role in altering European perceptions of the world and its geography.