Final answer:
The Americas were first discovered by Europeans, with Christopher Columbus often credited with the discovery. The name 'Americas' is derived from Amerigo Vespucci.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Americas, which include North and South America, were first discovered by Europeans. The Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is often credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492. However, it is important to note that indigenous peoples had already been living in the Americas for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans.
When Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, he believed that he had reached the region of Asia known as the Indies. It was Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer, who later realized that the lands discovered by Columbus were actually a new continent. As a result, the continents were named after him, and they became known as the Americas.
So, the statement is true. The Americas were indeed first discovered by Europeans.
Learn more about Discovery of the Americas