Did Ferdinand Magellan Really Circumnavigate the World?

Look Back History

13 Jul 202004:54

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn 1492, Columbus initiated the Age of European Exploration, with explorers venturing east and west in search of riches. Ferdinand Magellan, despite being killed in the Philippines, nearly completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth. His journey, from the Indian Ocean trade monopoly to the discovery of the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific, set the stage for the first global voyage, ultimately completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano. The narrative explores Magellan's pivotal role and the historical inaccuracies surrounding his expedition.

Takeaways

🚢 In 1492, Columbus initiated the Age of European Exploration, setting sail to the Americas and the Indies for valuables.
🌏 European explorers, particularly from Portugal and Spain, ventured west and east in search of riches to bring back to Europe.
🛳 Ferdinand Magellan is popularly known as the first to circumnavigate the Earth, despite being killed in the Philippines before completing the voyage.
🏰 Magellan's early career involved sailing for Portugal, where he helped establish a near-monopoly on Indian Ocean trade.
🇵🇹 Portugal and Spain began building their overseas empires, with Spain focusing on the Americas and Portugal on trade along the African and Indian coastlines.
🧭 Magellan's first significant voyage for Portugal was in 1505, where he accompanied the first Viceroy of Portuguese India on a successful mission.
🦘 In 1513, after an injury in Morocco and a dispute over pay, Magellan switched his allegiance from Portugal to Spain.
🌊 The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 divided the non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal, creating territorial disputes including the ownership of the East Indies.
🌅 Magellan's voyage for Spain in 1519 aimed to reach the East Indies by sailing west, circumventing the Portuguese-controlled Cape of Good Hope.
🏞️ He discovered the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean, named for its calmness when first encountered.
🗺️ Despite his death in the Philippines, Magellan's journey was significant as he nearly completed a circumnavigation, with the actual completion by Juan Sebastián Elcano.
🏆 Elcano was honored for completing the first circumnavigation, with his coat of arms amended by King Charles I to include a globe and the phrase 'Primus Circumdedisti Me'.

Q & A

In what year did Columbus sail the Ocean blue, marking the beginning of the Age of European Exploration?
-Columbus sailed the Ocean blue in the year 1492, marking the beginning of the Age of European Exploration.
What were the primary directions that European explorers took in their search for valuables to bring back to Europe?
-European explorers primarily sailed west to the Americas and east to the Indies in search of valuables to bring back to Europe.
Who is credited with being the first to circumnavigate the Earth, and what is the misconception about his journey?
-Ferdinand Magellan is credited with being the first to circumnavigate the Earth, but the misconception is that he completed the voyage; in reality, he was killed in the Philippines before the journey was completed.
Why did Magellan's service shift from Portugal to Spain?
-Magellan's service shifted from Portugal to Spain because King Manuel I of Portugal refused to increase his pay as compensation for a leg wound he sustained, prompting Magellan to take his talents elsewhere.
What significant event occurred in 1494 between Spain and Portugal that affected their exploration efforts?
-In 1494, Spain and Portugal divided the entire non-Christian world between themselves, an event that affected their exploration efforts and led to a bit of fuzziness over ownership, particularly of the East Indies.
What was the primary strategy of the Portuguese in creating their overseas empire compared to the Spanish?
-The Portuguese primarily went east, creating a trade empire by building outposts and taking ports without conquering the native peoples, while the Spanish went west, focusing on building a land empire in the Americas by conquering the native civilizations.
What was the significance of the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean in Magellan's voyage?
-The Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean were significant in Magellan's voyage as they provided a new route to reach the East Indies by sailing west, bypassing the Portuguese-controlled Cape of Good Hope.
Who completed Magellan's voyage after his death, and what recognition did he receive from the King of Spain?
-A Basque sailor named Juan Sebastián Elcano completed Magellan's voyage. In recognition, King Charles I augmented Elcano’s coat of arms with a globe and the words 'Primus Circumdedisti Me', meaning 'You were the first to encircle me'.
How did Magellan's earlier travels to Malacca and his later voyage to the Philippines almost make him the first man to circumnavigate the globe?
-Magellan's earlier travels to Malacca, the farthest east he ever sailed, and his later voyage to the Philippines, the farthest west, were not very far apart on a global scale. Had he sailed a bit farther in either direction, he would have indirectly circumnavigated the globe.
What was the original goal of Magellan's voyage in 1519, and how did he plan to achieve it?
-The original goal of Magellan's voyage in 1519 was to reach the East Indies by sailing west. He planned to achieve it by going around South America, discovering the Strait of Magellan, and entering the Pacific Ocean.

Outlines

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🌍 Magellan's Near Circumnavigation

Ferdinand Magellan is often credited with the first circumnavigation of the Earth, despite dying halfway through the journey in the Philippines. His crew completed the voyage, bringing the first successful circumnavigation to fruition. Magellan's journey and explorations were pivotal in the Age of European Exploration, which saw European powers, primarily Spain and Portugal, seeking new routes and territories for valuable resources.

🚢 Magellan's Early Exploits

Magellan initially sailed for Portugal, participating in expeditions that helped Portugal establish a trade monopoly in the Indian Ocean. His travels took him to Malacca (modern-day Malaysia), marking the furthest east he ever sailed. Despite his successes, he became disillusioned with Portugal and transferred his services to Spain, seeking better opportunities.

🗺️ Spain and Portugal's Global Division

In 1494, Spain and Portugal divided the non-Christian world between them, leading to disputes over territories like the East Indies. Magellan, now sailing for Spain, sought a western route to the East Indies to bypass Portuguese-controlled routes. This endeavor led to his historic journey in 1519, where he aimed to reach the East Indies by sailing west from Spain.

🌊 Discovery of the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific

In 1519, Magellan embarked on his journey with the backing of the Spanish king. Unlike Columbus, he knew about the existence of the Americas and aimed to navigate around them. He discovered the Strait of Magellan and was the first European to enter the Pacific Ocean. His voyage continued to the Philippines, where he met his demise in a conflict with the local inhabitants.

⚓ Completion of the First Circumnavigation

After Magellan's death, Juan Sebastián Elcano took command and completed the circumnavigation. Only one ship and 18 sailors returned to Spain from the original fleet of 270 men. Elcano was honored by King Charles I for this achievement. Despite dying before completing the journey, Magellan's travels from Malacca to the Philippines meant he nearly circumnavigated the globe indirectly.

🔔 Conclusion and Call to Action

The video concludes by inviting viewers to explore related content about Columbus and the Caribbean, and to subscribe for more historical videos. The host, James, signs off, thanking viewers for watching.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Columbus

Columbus, or Christopher Columbus, was an Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for widespread European exploration and the eventual conquest of the Americas. In the video's context, Columbus is mentioned as the initiator of the Age of European Exploration, which set the stage for further explorations, including Magellan's voyage.

💡Age of European Exploration

The Age of European Exploration refers to the period from the 15th to the 17th century when European ships explored the world by sea, establishing trade routes and colonies. The video script mentions this era as the backdrop for the voyages of Columbus and later, Magellan, emphasizing the historical significance of their expeditions.

💡Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The video focuses on Magellan's attempt to circumnavigate the globe, highlighting his journey and its impact on the understanding of the world's geography.

💡Circumnavigation

Circumnavigation is the act of traveling around an entire geographical object, in this case, the Earth. The script discusses Magellan's journey as the first attempt at circumnavigation, illustrating the concept with the narrative of his voyage and the ultimate completion by his crew despite his death.

💡Portugal and Spain

Portugal and Spain were two of the most prominent seafaring nations during the Age of Exploration. The script mentions their roles in pioneering overseas empires, with Portugal focusing on the Indian Ocean trade and Spain on the Americas, setting the stage for Magellan's voyages for both nations.

💡Indian Ocean trade

The Indian Ocean trade refers to the maritime commerce that connected the various regions around the Indian Ocean, including Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. The script notes that the Portuguese developed a near-monopoly on this trade, which was a significant factor in Magellan's early sailing experiences.

💡Malacca

Malacca, now part of Malaysia, was a strategic city in the Indian Ocean trade. In the script, it is mentioned as the farthest east Magellan sailed, indicating its importance as a trade hub and a key location in the exploration of the East.

💡Strait of Magellan

The Strait of Magellan is a navigable sea passage in southern Chile, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The script describes how Magellan discovered this strait during his voyage, which allowed him to navigate around South America and proceed towards the Pacific.

💡Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions. It was named by Magellan because of the calm weather when he first encountered it. The script mentions the Pacific as a significant part of Magellan's westward journey towards the East Indies.

💡Juan Sebastián Elcano

Juan Sebastián Elcano was a Basque sailor who completed what is considered the first circumnavigation of the Earth after Magellan's death. The script credits him with finishing the voyage and returning to Spain, thus achieving the first circumnavigation.

💡Charles I

Charles I, also known as Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, was the King of Spain who sponsored Magellan's expedition. The script notes that he rewarded Elcano for completing the circumnavigation, underscoring the monarch's role in supporting exploration and the significance of the achievement.

Highlights

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, marking the beginning of the Age of European Exploration.

Over the next few decades, explorers from European countries, mainly Portugal and Spain, sailed west to the Americas and east to the Indies.

Ferdinand Magellan and his crew became the first to circumnavigate the Earth, although Magellan himself did not complete the journey.

Magellan was killed in the Philippines, but his crew managed to return to Europe and complete the first circumnavigation.

Despite his death, Magellan came within a few hundred miles of being the first person to circumnavigate the globe.

Magellan first sailed for Portugal in 1505, accompanying the first Viceroy of Portuguese India.

In 1513, Magellan returned to Portugal and fought in Morocco, sustaining a leg wound that caused him to limp for the rest of his life.

After King Manuel I refused to increase his pay, Magellan offered his services to Spain.

In 1494, Spain and Portugal divided the non-Christian world between themselves, but there was ambiguity over the ownership of the East Indies.

Magellan set out in 1519 with five ships to reach the East Indies by sailing west, with the consent and funding of the King of Spain.

Magellan discovered the Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean during his voyage.

A Basque sailor named Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the circumnavigation after Magellan's death.

Only one ship and 18 sailors out of the original 270 returned to Spain to complete the first circumnavigation.

King Charles I augmented Elcano’s coat of arms, adding a globe and the words 'Primus Circumdedisti Me' meaning 'You were the first to encircle me.'

Magellan indirectly circumnavigated the globe by sailing as far east as Malacca and as far west as the Philippines, which are relatively close on a global scale.

Transcripts

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