Who was the Italian sailor recognized for identifying the Americas as a new world?

Amerigo Vespucci is recognized for identifying the Americas as a new world largely due to his explorations and subsequent writings that detailed his journeys. Unlike Christopher Columbus, who believed he had reached the outskirts of Asia, Vespucci's travels led him to conclude that the land masses discovered were part of a separate continent, distinct from Asia.

His letters and reports, which outlined the geography and the people of the New World, informed the European audience about the existence of these new lands. Additionally, the name "America" derives from Amerigo, solidifying his legacy in the context of the discovery of the Americas. This differentiation is crucial, as Vespucci's contributions helped shift European perception, ultimately leading to a broader understanding of geography in the Age of Exploration.