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Ferdinand Magellan
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Born/died:
1480 - 1521
Birth city/country: Sabrosa, Portugal
Main achievement: Circumnavigated the world
Life summary:
Magellan was born in Portugal in 1480. He lived in Lisbon for much of his
early life. In 1505, he ventured on the high seas to India where he
learned seamanship and naval warfare under Portuguese viceroys. Around
1511, he also involved in a venture to the Spice Islands where exotic
goods such as cinnamon and nutmeg could be found.
This
was a time when excitement ran high about the riches and treasures to be
found in new lands. The silks, spices and art found in south east Asia
triggered not only the imagination of the adventurous but made them think
of the money to be made. We have yet to uncover whether Magellan was
motivated by the desire to develop immense wealth or if he had a genuine
curiosity about what was there. It was probably a combination of both. His
strength in changing national allegiance in order to achieve this is seen
as treachery by some, but needing incredible strength of character by
others.
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He is best known as the person who first
circumnavigated the globe. Technically, he didn't do this in one go though
as he was killed half way through his journey west. If we take into
account the fact that he had been in that same area of the world earlier
in his life (though he had sailed east to get there), then he had been
around the globe. He named the Pacific Ocean because it was so peaceful
compared to the Atlantic.
All this added up to an understanding that the
world was round! His name is etched into history when considering the
"Magellan Straits" - the area at the Southern Tip of South
America that was rounded by Magellan and his crew in their trip west.
The purpose of the trip was really a money making
venture. In 1494 the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed. This stated that
all of the unknown world to the east of an imaginary line that had been
drawn 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands would belong to Portugal.
Everything to the west of that line would belong to Spain. It had been
known for some time that the Spice Islands contained an abundance of
wealth partly because of the huge range of spices that grew there. So the
aim was to try to find a western sea route to the "Spice
Islands" in Asia
The Spanish King Charles the First King Charles
approved Magellan's plan and granted him generous funds on March 22, 1518
he knew a good thing when he saw it coming. Magellan had originally tried
to convince the Portuguese king to provide the funding but didn't get it.
It probably was not in the interests of Portugal to find a route to the
Spice Islands from this direction. Portugal was determined to claim this
for themselves by getting there from the other direction.
His Voyage |
On
September [1519], Magellan set sail with 270 men five ships (possibly
naos) called the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Concepcion, the Victoria,
and the Santiago. As with all trips, things on the ships started out well,
however without the benefits of freeze dried meals as well as freezers,
Conditions aboard the ships turned abominable later in the trip.
In the long stretch across the Pacific. The crew began to starve as food
stores were depleted. The water turned putrid and yellow in colour. The
crew survived on sawdust, leather strips from the sails, and rats. Without
the benefit of vitamin C in fresh fruits and vegetables, the men also came
down with scurvy.
As well as the general troubles of long travel on board ship, Magellan had
other troubles to cope with. There was a mutiny by a number of the Spanish
officers that led to a number of executions as well as two men who were
left behind in a hostile area as punishment for their part in the mutiny.
Some of the Spanish were convinced that Magellan was secretly working for
the Portuguese and they claimed he had failed to adequately equip the
ships from the start of the trip. His treatment of the locals met on the
trip also should be questioned. When anchored near Puerto San Julian,
Magellan and his crew came on people who lived in the area herding animals
called Llamas. They tricked the men into trying on leg irons and then
captured them. This is a touch ironic given it was his forceful ways that
later led to his demise in the Philippines.
Shortly after, in one of the more difficult parts of the trip rounding the
Southern tip of South America, the San Antonio turned back. She was the
main supply ship and in the process, she took with her about a third of
the entire supplies for the voyage.
Magellan's biggest problem obviously hit him in the Philippines. He was
more than enthusiastic when a number of people in the Philippines warmly
embraced the Catholic religion. In fact, it is thought to be due to his
influence that the Philippines is one of the only countries in the Asian
region with a high percentage of Catholics. In his drive to get as many
converts as he could, he ran into trouble with a few of the nobles who,
rather than succumb to Magellan took him on in battle. Magellan lost. He
had headed into battle with full body armour, thinking he was invincible.
However, a spear through the foot slowed him down and gave the locals who
were less heavily armed the opportunity to take the upper hand.
The journey was completed by the Victoria. She carried a cargo of spices
worth more than enough to pay for the whole voyage.
For more
information on Ferdinand Magellan, go to:
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First
Circumnavigation of the Globe by Magellan 1519-1522
Ferdinand
Magellan
After
dire straits an agonizing haul across the Pacific
Ferdinand
Magellan: The greatest voyager of them all
Magellan,
Ferdinand
Ferdinand
Magellan
Ferdinand
Magellan (in French)
Ferdinand
Magellan (links)
Original
account
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