Magellan's expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe because it was the first to successfully cross the Pacific Ocean, thus paving the way to complete a full circumnavigation of the Earth.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Europe is in the midst of the Renaissance, a period of intense exploration where major powers are seeking new maritime routes to the spices and riches of Asia. The Portuguese and the Spanish are fiercely competing to dominate these new routes. Meanwhile, maritime technology is advancing with more robust ships like the famous carrack and improved navigation tools such as the astrolabe and the magnetic compass. More accurate and reliable maps are also available thanks to explorers returning from previous voyages. These advancements, combined with the political and economic will of the monarchs, create the perfect conditions to attempt such a crazy adventure as sailing around the globe.
Magellan had a remarkable mastery of open-sea navigation without coastal landmarks. Back then, there were neither GPS nor precise maps: navigation relied mainly on careful observation of the stars and ocean currents. This guy had the experience and instinct necessary to manage a crew that was often stressed or on the brink of mutiny (yeah, things sometimes got pretty heated on board). His composure in storms and critical moments allowed the expedition to succeed where others had failed. Moreover, despite the difficulties, he managed to earn the trust (often fragile, but very real) of his sailors, which was essential for such a crazy journey across an unknown sea.
Magellan chose a route never before explored, passing through the south of South America rather than along the known African or Asian coasts. He was the first European to find and cross the famous maritime passage connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean: the Strait of Magellan. This route was bold, quite narrow, difficult to navigate, and full of storms. By taking this unprecedented path, he opened access to the Pacific Ocean, definitively influencing future cartography and navigation. This innovative route proved that there was an alternative to the traditional eastern route and that the Earth was indeed round.
Magellan's expedition was able to establish essential relationships with several indigenous groups along the route. In the Philippines, Magellan formed a crucial alliance with the local king of Cebu, who was even baptized Christian, which helped secure valuable local supplies and support. However, this rapprochement went awry when Magellan became involved in a local conflict by confronting a rival chief, Lapu-Lapu, leading to his own death during the famous Battle of Mactan. Later, in the Moluccas, the crew established a crucial trade agreement with the local peoples, allowing them to obtain valuable spices like cloves, which were worth their weight in gold in Europe. These interactions, sometimes fruitful and sometimes tragic, were decisive in directly influencing the final outcome of the expedition.
After the death of Magellan in 1521 in the Philippines, a Spanish sailor, Juan Sebastián Elcano, takes command of the expedition to complete the journey around the globe. He decides to continue westward with the remaining ship, the Victoria. After months of hardship at sea and challenging conditions, the crew members finally manage to cross the Indian Ocean, rounding Africa by the Cape of Good Hope. In September 1522, nearly three years after their departure from Seville, the survivors return to Spain, thus completing the first full circumnavigation of the world. Of the approximately 240 men who initially set out, only 18 emaciated sailors arrive alive. Despite the horrific losses, this return marks a monumental achievement in maritime history and the first concrete proof that the Earth is spherical.
Ferdinand Magellan himself never completed the voyage around the world. He was killed in the Philippines in 1521, and it was his second-in-command, the Spaniard Juan Sebastián Elcano, who successfully carried out the remainder of the expedition.
It was during this voyage that Magellan named the Pacific Ocean due to the unusual tranquility of its waters when he crossed it for the first time.
The detailed account of Magellan's expedition was primarily written by Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian nobleman who boarded the ship as a chronicler, whose reports provide today's historians with an essential insight into the voyage.
The expedition led to the unexpected discovery of many islands and territories, notably altering the cartography and our understanding of the globe's geography at the time.
No, Ferdinand Magellan himself did not survive the expedition. He died in the Philippines in 1521. It was his second-in-command, Juan Sebastián Elcano, who took over and completed the journey, thereby accomplishing the first complete circumnavigation of the globe.
The Magellan expedition is famous for having concretely proven that the Earth is spherical, for discovering a passage to the West (the Strait of Magellan), and for establishing unprecedented maritime relations, thereby paving the way for a better understanding of the oceans and global trade.
The crew faced numerous dangers such as violent storms, hunger, diseases like scurvy, internal rebellions, as well as conflicts with indigenous peoples, including the one in which Magellan lost his life in the Philippines.
The Strait of Magellan was of considerable importance as it represented a navigable passage to the west and the Pacific Ocean, proving that there was a maritime route connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific, which helped to revolutionize European trade routes.
The expedition led by Ferdinand Magellan lasted nearly three years, departing in September 1519 and returning in September 1522, under the final command of Juan Sebastián Elcano.
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