America was conceived in Florence
Subtitle: Vespucci, Verrazzano, and Mazzei and their contribution to the conception of the New World
By: Giancarlo Masini, Iacopo Gori.
Contributors: Gori, Iacopo.
Publisher: Marsilio Publishers
Published: 1998
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 158
Subjects: Vespucci, Amerigo, 1451-1512; Verrazzano, Giovanni da, 1485-1528; Mazzei, Filippo, 1730-1816; United States -- Civilization -- Italian influences
Description: Three Florentines-Amerigo Vespucci, Giovanni da Verazzano, and Filippo Mazzei-made indispensable contributions to America's "discovery" and to the democratic ideals upon which the republic was founded. Vespucci and Verrazano, two representatives of the Renaissance, supplied the geographic conceptualization and detailed surveys of the new continent.

Filippo Mazzei, a key figure of the Enlightenment, had an extensive correspondence with Thomas Jefferson, which was crucial to him in his formalization of the concept of constitutional democracy. As Giancarlo Masini and Iacopo Gori show these three sons of Florence demonstrate a unique link between Italian culture and the destiny of the United States.