Antonio Pigafetta: First Voyage Around The World

Antonio Pigafetta's Role and Contributions

• Served as a Venetian scholar and explorer during Ferdinand Magellan's expedition.
• Acted as the official chronicler, documenting the journey, encounters, and events in great detail.

Pigafetta's Record-Keeping

• Maintained a detailed journal throughout the expedition, including observations of the diverse cultures and customs encountered.
• His writings provide crucial insights into early 16th-century exploration and navigation practices.

Return from the Expedition

• Out of approximately 240 men who initially set sail, only 18 returned to Spain after the expedition's conclusion.
• The significant loss of crew members highlights the perilous nature of the journey.

Importance of Pigafetta's Journal

• Surviving journal serves as a primary source for historians studying the first circumnavigation of the globe.
• It provides valuable information about geography, indigenous peoples, and the challenges faced during the voyage.

Pigafetta's Background

• Belonged to a wealthy family in the city of Vicenza, Italy, which contributed to his education and opportunities for exploration.

Test your knowledge of Antonio Pigafetta, a Venetian scholar and explorer known for his accurate journal of the first expedition around the world led by Ferdinand Magellan.