His uncle, Giorgio Antonio, first introduced him to his future love of geography and astronomy through books and stories. He studied people like Vergil, Dante, Petrarch, Aristole to Ptolemy. However, his father had other ideas for young Amerigo, it was custom in Italian families to send the older sons to college and teach the younger ones a trade. Amerigo, being in the middle, would learn the trade of mercantilism. His love of cosmography and geography came in handy in his business.
Cosmography is theoretical study.
It also includes physics and astronomy in relation to the earth. Geography is a practical science. This was extremely useful to merchants because it consisted of the knowledge of countries, location, trade resources, people and other available information. A top scholar in Florence named Apollo dal Pozzo Toscaneilli also befriended Amerigo. He can be credited with introducing Amerigo to people and influences like Columbus and DaVinci.