THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORD: THE MAGALLAN AND ELCANO EXPEDITION

Summary

The Maggianocano expedition, led by Portuguese explorer Francisco de Magallanes and completed by Juan Sebastian El Cano, achieved the first circumnavigation of the globe. The journey, marked by mutiny, shipwrecks, and the death of Magallanes, faced immense hardships including hunger and scurvy. The expedition's success not only proved the Earth's roundness but also opened new maritime routes, with the surviving crew bringing valuable spices from the East Indies, securing a 4% profit on their return to Spain.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Maggianocano expedition, led by Francisco de Magallanes and completed by Juan Sebastian El Cano, was the first recorded voyage around the world.
• 🚢 The expedition began with five ships and 245 men, representing various nationalities, setting sail from Seville on August 10, 1519.
• 📜 Two key testimonials of the journey are the logbook kept by the Greek sailor Francisco de Albor and the account written by Italian explorer Antonio Pigafetta.
• 🌊 The fleet faced numerous challenges, including calms, bad weather, and internal disputes, which led to a mutiny and the execution of some crew members.
• 🛳️ The San Antonio abandoned the expedition, and the Santiago was shipwrecked, leaving three ships to continue the journey.
• 🗺️ The Strait of Magellan was crossed, leading the fleet into the Pacific Ocean, which they named due to the calm weather they experienced.
• 🏝️ The expedition reached the Philippines, where Magellan was killed in the Battle of Mactan, and later the Spice Islands, their original objective.
• 🌿 The crew faced extreme hunger and scurvy during the Pacific crossing, resorting to eating sawdust, rats, and leather to survive.
• ⚓️ The Victoria, under El Cano's command, was the only ship to complete the circumnavigation, proving the Earth's roundness and avoiding Portuguese territories.
• 🌴 The Victoria returned to Spain with 18 survivors and a valuable cargo of spices, which more than covered the expedition's costs and yielded a profit.

Q & A

Who were the leaders of the first voyage around the world?

The voyage was initiated by the Portuguese explorer Francisco de Magallanes and completed by the Basque adventurer Juan Sebastian El Cano.

What was the significance of the Magellan-El Cano expedition?

The expedition was significant as it was the first circumnavigation of the world, proving that the Earth was indeed round and opening new maritime routes for trade.

What was the primary objective of the expedition?

The primary objective was to find a new maritime route to the Spice Islands, also known as the Maluku Islands, to facilitate trade with the East Indies.

How many ships and crew members were part of the expedition when it set sail from Seville?

The expedition set sail from Seville with five ships and a total of 245 men on board.

What challenges did the crew face during the Pacific crossing?

During the Pacific crossing, the crew faced extreme hunger and scurvy, leading to the consumption of sawdust, rats, and leather from the rigging.

How did Magellan die during the expedition?

Magellan died during the Battle of Mactan in the Philippines while fighting against the local islanders.

What happened to the ships and crew after Magellan's death?

After Magellan's death, the crew decided to burn the Concepción, and later, the Trinidad was abandoned due to a leak. The Victoria, under the command of El Cano, continued the journey back to Spain.

Why did El Cano decide to sail far from the coast on the return voyage?

El Cano sailed far from the coast to avoid being captured by the Portuguese, as they were in areas controlled by Portugal, which could have resulted in imprisonment or death.

How many crew members survived the entire journey and returned to Spain?

Out of the 245 men who embarked on the expedition, only 18 survived and returned to Spain on board the Victoria.

What was the ultimate outcome of the expedition in terms of profit and discovery?

The expedition was profitable, with the valuable cargo of spices more than covering the cost of the trip and yielding a profit of four percent. It also resulted in the discovery of new lands and the confirmation of the Earth's round shape.