Ferdinand Magellan - First Circumnavigation of the Earth
Simple History・5 minutes read
European sailors sought valuable spices from the Far East, leading to Ferdinand Magellan's expedition to sail around the world, facing challenges like mutiny and ship losses, eventually proving the Earth's spherical shape after only 18 crew members survived the journey back to Spain.
Insights
- European exploration in the late 1400s was primarily driven by the pursuit of valuable spices from the Far East, motivating sailors like Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan to propose a groundbreaking voyage around the world to reach the Spice Islands.
- Despite facing numerous challenges such as mutiny, loss of ships, and conflicts with local rulers, Magellan's expedition managed to discover a strait, reach the Philippines, and ultimately complete the first circumnavigation of the world, providing concrete evidence of the Earth's spherical shape and the vast possibilities of global exploration.
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Why did European sailors explore in the late 1400s?
Seeking valuable spices from the Far East.
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Summary
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Magellan's Spice Route Circumnavigation Success
- European exploration in the late 1400s was driven by Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian sailors seeking spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg from the Far East, which were highly valuable.
- Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese sailor, proposed to King Charles I of Spain a voyage to reach the Spice Islands by sailing around the world, leading to the assembly of an expedition with 270 crew members and five ships.
- Magellan's expedition faced challenges, including mutiny, loss of ships, and dwindling supplies, but eventually discovered a strait named after him and reached the Philippines, where they made alliances and faced conflicts with local rulers.
- After a grueling journey, only 18 of the original crew of 270 from Magellan's expedition made it back to Spain, marking the first circumnavigation of the world and proving the Earth's spherical shape.
