Kungani iMelika yabizwa ngokuthi iZwe Elisha?
Context:Igama elithi Izwe Elisha livame ukusetshenziselwa ukubhekisela eningi leNtshonalanga Yomhlaba, ikakhulukazi iMelika. Leli gama laqala ukuvelela ekuqaleni kwekhulu le-16, phakathi neNkathi Yokuvubukulwa YaseYurophu, ngokushesha ngemva kokuba umhloli wamazwe wase-Italy u-Amerigo Vespucci ephethe ngokuthi iMelika (manje evame ukubizwa ngokuthi iMelika) imelela izwekazi elisha, futhi kamuva washicilela okutholakele kwakhe encwajaneni ayibiza ngesiLatini ngokuthi: Mundus Novus. Lokhu kuqaphela kwandisa indawo eyayihlolwa izazi zezwe zakudala zaseYurophu, ezazicabanga ukuthi umhlaba wawuhlanganisa i-Afrika, iYurophu ne-Asia, ngokuhlanganyela manje ezibizwa ngokuthi iZwe Elidala, noma i-Afro-Eurasia. Ngakho amaMelika nawo abizwa ngokuthi "ingxenye yesine yomhlaba".
Esikhathini esidlule, impucuko enkulu yayingazi ukuthi iMelika ikhona. Njengoba umbono wabo wezwe wawuhlanganisa iYurophu, i-Afrika ne-Asia, ukutholakala kwezwekazi lonke laseMelika kwakuwumbono oyinhloko womhlaba kubantu bangaleso sikhathi. Babhekisela eMelika ngokuthi iZwe Elisha.