On this day in 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Sanlúcar de
Barrameda in Spain to circumnavigate the globe. This has an
interesting background. In the late 1400's, it was known that the
Americas were a separate continent, and not part of Asia. The problem
for Spain was how to get to the Spice Islands ( the Moluccas, in
Indonesia today). They could not go round the Africa: a treaty signed
in 1494 gave the Portugese the sole right to this eastern route. So
they needed a western route.
Magellan proposed finding this route to Charles I of Spain, and the
project was approved because if successful, they would have a route
without having to go to war with the Portugese.
Five ships sailed on September 20, 1519. Ships from Portugal followed
them, but he got past them. When the arrived in South America, they
could not land in Brazil, it was Portugese territory. They landed
instead in Argentina (near Rio), there was a mutiny but Magellan
prevailed. Then they started to sail south, looking for a way around.
They found what we now call the Magellan Straits, sailed into the
Pacific (which was named by Magellan: Mar Pacifico because it was
peaceful), and they were the first cross the Pacific.
Magellan did not make it back: he was killed in the Battle of Mactan
in the Phillipines in 1521. Two of the ships continued the journey,
made it to the Spice Islands. They continued westward, around Africa,
almost died, and one ship, captained by Juan Sebastián Elcano, finally
returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Elcano and his surviving crew were
the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Barrameda in Spain to circumnavigate the globe. This has an
interesting background. In the late 1400's, it was known that the
Americas were a separate continent, and not part of Asia. The problem
for Spain was how to get to the Spice Islands ( the Moluccas, in
Indonesia today). They could not go round the Africa: a treaty signed
in 1494 gave the Portugese the sole right to this eastern route. So
they needed a western route.
Magellan proposed finding this route to Charles I of Spain, and the
project was approved because if successful, they would have a route
without having to go to war with the Portugese.
Five ships sailed on September 20, 1519. Ships from Portugal followed
them, but he got past them. When the arrived in South America, they
could not land in Brazil, it was Portugese territory. They landed
instead in Argentina (near Rio), there was a mutiny but Magellan
prevailed. Then they started to sail south, looking for a way around.
They found what we now call the Magellan Straits, sailed into the
Pacific (which was named by Magellan: Mar Pacifico because it was
peaceful), and they were the first cross the Pacific.
Magellan did not make it back: he was killed in the Battle of Mactan
in the Phillipines in 1521. Two of the ships continued the journey,
made it to the Spice Islands. They continued westward, around Africa,
almost died, and one ship, captained by Juan Sebastián Elcano, finally
returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Elcano and his surviving crew were
the first to circumnavigate the globe.
No comments:
Post a Comment