Ferdinand Magellan 1480?–1521
Captain of the First Voyage Around the World
As a boy, Ferdinand Magellan served the queen of Portugal at the royal court. There, he learned basic navigation. His early training and later studies made it possible for him to lead the first voyage around the world. It happened this way:
As a sea captain, Magellan took an interest in the Spice Islands, distant islands in southeastern Asia. A captain who sailed there, bought spices, and sold them when he returned to Europe would be rich.
Most ships sailed east to get to the islands. In 1519, Magellan sailed west with his fleet of five ships. He hoped that sailing west around the globe would be a shortcut. The voyage was hard and took much longer than planned. Magellan and his crew became the first Europeans to cross the Pacific Ocean. One of his ships made it back to Europe in 1522. It was the first ship ever to sail around the world.
Critical Thinking
What are the pros and cons that Magellan might have weighed before he decided to make his voyage?