Final answer:
People in the 15th and 16th centuries called North & South America the 'New World' because it was a newly discovered landmass to Europeans.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 15th and 16th centuries, people called North & South America the 'New World' because it was a newly discovered landmass to Europeans. Prior to this time, Europeans were not aware of the existence of these continents, so they referred to them as the 'New World'. This was in contrast to the 'Old World', which referred to Europe, Asia, and Africa.
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