History of the name “Americas”

In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions.

The earliest known use of the name America for this landmass dates from April 25, 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 in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in France. These were the first maps to show the Americas as a land mass separate from Asia. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, anonymous but apparently written by Waldseemüller's collaborator Matthias Ringmann,[25] states, "I do not see what right any one would have to object to calling this part [that is, the South American mainland], after Americus who discovered it and who is a man of intelligence, Amerigen, that is, the Land of Americus, or America: since both Europa and Asia got their names from women". Americus Vespucius is the Latinized version of the Florentine explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, and America is the feminine form of Americus. Amerigen is explained as Amerigo plus gen, the accusative case of the Greek word for 'earth', and meaning 'land of Amerigo'. Amerigo itself is an Italian form of the medieval Latin Emericus, which through the German form Heinrich derived from the Germanic name Haimirich.

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. 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 Europa

Political division: North America

The political division of North America is composed by the following countries:

1. Bermuda

2. Canada

3. Greenland

4. Mexico

5. Saint Pierre and Miquelon

6. United States

Political division: South America

The political division of South America is composed by the following countries:

1. Argentina

2. Bolivia

3. Brazil

4. Chile

5. Colombia

6. Ecuador

7. Falkland Islands

8. French Guiana

9. Guyana

10. Paraguay

11. Peru

12. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

13. Suriname

14. Uruguay

15. Venezuela

Political division: America Central

The political division of America Central is composed by the following countries:

1. Belize

2. Costa Rica

3. El Salvador

4. Guatemala

5. Honduras

6. Nicaragua

7. Panama

Political division: Caribbean America

The political division of Caribbean Central is composed by the following countries:

1. Anguilla

2. Antigua and Barbuda

3. Aruba (Neth.)

4. Bahamas,

5. Barbados

6. Bonaire

7. British Virgin Islands

8. Cayman Islands

9. Cuba

10. Curaçao

11. Dominica

12. Dominican Republic

13. Grenada

14. Guadeloupe (Fr.)

15. Haiti

16. Jamaica

17. Martinique

18. Montserrat

19. Navassa Island

20. Puerto Rico

21. Saba

22. Saint Barthélemy

23. Saint Kitts and Nevis

24. Saint Lucia

25. Saint Martin

26. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

27. Sint Eustatius

28. Sint Maarten

29. Trinidad and Tobago

30. Turks and Caicos Islands

31. United States Virgin Islands

Difference between America Central and Central America

America Central is a realm of Mexico, Central America, and the greater and lesser Antilles. Central America consists only of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and Belize.

External link: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_Central_America_and_Middle_America#ixzz1QUKCGmLH

Anglo America: Language

Anglo-America is a region in the Americas in which English is a main language

Anglo America: Religion

The predominant religión is Protestantism. The second most common religion is Catholicism.

Anglo America: Economy

Free market economy with a flexible labour force and low levels of governmental interference in the economy. Is often seen as opposed to the European model of greater governmental regulation and social standards for workers, including protection against being sacked without compensation.

Latin America: Language

Its primary language is Spanish. Some countries speak Portuguese also.

Latin America: Religion

Latin America’s primary religion is Catholicism.

Latin America: Economy

On a per capita basis most Latin American countries, including the largest ones (Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and Colombia), have per capita GDPs (Gross domestic product) greater than that of China in 2009. As of 2010 Latin America included five nations classified as high-income countries: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Panama.

Poverty continues to be one of the region's main challenges; according to the ECLAC, Latin America is the most unequal region in the world. Inequality is undermining the region's economic potential and the well-being of its population, since it increases poverty and reduces the impact of economic development on poverty reduction. Inequality in Latin America has deep historical roots that have been difficult to eradicate since the differences between initial endowments and opportunities among social groups have constrained the poorest's social mobility, thus making poverty to be transmitted from generation to generation, becoming a vicious cycle. High inequality is rooted in exclusionary institutions that have been perpetuated ever since colonial times and that have survived different political and economic regimes. Recent economic liberalization also plays a role as not everyone is equally capable of taking advantage of its benefits. Differences in opportunities and endowments tend to be based on race, ethnicity, rurality and gender. Those differences have a strong impact on the distribution of income, capital and political standing.

The major trade blocs (or agreements) in the region are the Union of South American Nations, composed of the integrated Mercosur and Andean Community of Nations (CAN). Minor blocs or trade agreements are the G3 Free Trade Agreement, the Dominican Republic – Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). However, major reconfigurations are taking place along opposing approaches to integration and trade; Venezuela has officially withdrawn from both the CAN and G3 and it has been formally admitted into the Mercosur (pending ratification from the Paraguayan legislature). The president-elect of Ecuador has manifested his intentions of following the same path. This bloc nominally opposes any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, although Uruguay has manifested its intention otherwise. On the other hand, Mexico is a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Chile has already signed an FTA with Canada, and along with Peru are the only two South American nations that have an FTA with the United States. Colombia's government is currently awaiting its ratification by the U.S. Senate.

Income from tourism is key to the economy of several Latin American countries. Mexico receives the largest number of international tourists, with 21.5 million visitors in 2009, followed by Brazil, with 4.8 million; Argentina, with 4.3 million; Dominican Republic, with 4.0 million;, Puerto Rico, with 3.5 million and Chile with 2.8 million.[97] Places such as Cancun, Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, Cartagena de Indias, Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Margarita Island, São Paulo, Salar de Uyuni, Punta del Este, Santo Domingo, Labadee, San Juan, La Habana, Panama City, Iguazu Falls, Puerto Vallarta, Poás Volcano National Park, Punta Cana, Viña del Mar, Mexico City, Quito, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Lima, Maceió, Florianópolis, Cuzco and Patagonia are popular among international visitors in the region.