The Americas consist of the continents of North America and South America and their associated islands, located entirely within the Western Hemisphere. They are often referred to as the New World, juxtaposed with the Old World, as they were unknown to the civilizations of Europe, Asia and Africa until 1492.

The term is a relatively recent and less ambiguous alternative to the term America, which may refer to either the entire landmass or the colloquial name for the United States of America. The original usage to describe what is sometimes considered a single continent or supercontinent is deprecated for clarity, for which the Americas is used to collectively refer to the landmass and various regions of it. When used to describe a single landmass, analogous terms to America or (the) Americas are Eurasia, which consists of Europe and Asia collectively, and Eurafrasia, which is Eurasia and Africa.

Naming of America

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The earliest known use of the name America for this particular landmass dates from 1507. It appears on a globe and a large map created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, explains that the name was derived from the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form, America, as the other continents all have Latin feminine names.

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Its Christmas Due and im watching Americas Sweethearts on this couch. Lame. Haha
Latchkeykid17 (Alec Escarcgea) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:35:40 -0000
Its Christmas Due and im watching Americas Sweethearts on this couch. Lame. Haha
#32912, KBR - Americas #Jobs #Finance #Houston http://jobview.monster.com/getjob.aspx?JobID=85301237
HoustonFinance (Houston Finance) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:35:05 -0000
#32912, KBR - Americas #Jobs #Finance #Houston http://jobview.monster.com/getjob.aspx?JobID=85301237
@EmilyB_ JUST SEEN THE AMERIE VIDEO Y DO I LOVE EVERY LOOK FABS WEARING .. HE LOOKS LIKE AMERICAS BOYFRIEND/ THE BOYFRIEND NEXT DOOR!
BASIKARMA (TEAMCOLE) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:29:20 -0000
@EmilyB_ JUST SEEN THE AMERIE VIDEO Y DO I LOVE EVERY LOOK FABS WEARING .. HE LOOKS LIKE AMERICAS BOYFRIEND/ THE BOYFRIEND NEXT DOOR!
i´m afraid of americas http://vimeo.com/8357960
iamfran (fran) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:28:53 -0000
i´m afraid of americas http://vimeo.com/8357960
Y q anoche me sosprenden con una abundante y dificil de digerir cenita y una vueltita al Americas pa bajarla con bailecin
VeronicaCronica (Lucita Trinidad) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:28:13 -0000
Y q anoche me sosprenden con una abundante y dificil de digerir cenita y una vueltita al Americas pa bajarla con bailecin
on holiday , on call phone off , beer open , feel my blood pressure decreasing as i type , kids watchin americas top model , what a load of
sunderlandsmile (Michael Oliver) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:27:19 -0000
on holiday , on call phone off , beer open , feel my blood pressure decreasing as i type , kids watchin americas top model , what a load of

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