Vespucci may have exaggerated his role in his early expeditions to the Americas

Historians are particularly interested in how Vespucci claimed to have played a pivotal role in his trips from 1497 to 1498. During his journey from 1499 to 1500, he made a similar claim. Given Vespucci's lack of long-distance sea travel experience at the time, historians believe he had a minor role in the missions.

Instead, they claim that he was just acting as an official agent for the expedition's investors on both trips. However, Alonso de Ojeda, the leader of the 1499 Expedition, did write in his journals that Vespucci assisted him as a pilot for his ship while at sea.