In 1519, Europe knew of the Americas, but each European King still sought the fabled passage to India, so they could enter the lucrative spice trade and bypass Arab middlemen. Spain and Portugal, which had already reached the New World, hoped to be the first to the Spice Islands. Having separated the world between them, each country pinned their hopes on daring explorers willing to undertake this dangerous expedition.
The son of a minor Portuguese noble, Ferdinand Magellan always knew he wanted to be an explorer. As a soldier in India and Africa, he honed his leadership skills and learned how to sail. Convinced he could find a westerly passage to India, Magellan tried to convince the king of Portugal to finance an expedition, but after he refused him too many times, Magellan switched allegiance and went to work for the Spanish. Granted a fleet of ships and a crew, Magellan set sail in 1519 and headed west to avoid waters controlled by the Portuguese navy.
Faced with difficult decisions in areas previously unknown, Magellan pushed his crew to the limit. Several mutinies rocked the fleet, and a ship left back for Spain when Magellan was at the southern tip of South America, charting what became known as the Straits of Magellan. After over 90 days of crossing the Pacific Ocean without seeing land, Magellan and his sailors arrived in the Philippines, located the Spice Islands, and discovered that the Portugueses had already been trading with the natives.
Magellan participated in several local conflicts, where he was killed. Demoralized with broken ships, some of the crew stayed on the islands fixing one of the two remaining ships, while the Victoria sailed on to Spain, its hull filled with spices. Upon its arrival in Seville on September 6, 1522, the remains of Magellan's crew proved that the world was round and were the first to circumnavigate it.
Fans of history will appreciate the dedication and tenacity Magellan displayed in the face of overwhelming odds.
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