Module 2: First Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan (PDF)

Module 2 Content & Contextual Analysis of Primary Source First Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan Around the World   born around 1490 in the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy, was the eldest son of Giovanni...

Module 2 Content & Contextual Analysis of Primary Source First Voyage of Ferdinand Magellan Around the World   born around 1490 in the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy, was the eldest son of Giovanni Pigafetta to second wife Angela Zoga.  He studied astronomy, geography, and cartography and during his younger years working in the ships owned by the Knights of Rhodes.  In 1519, Pigafetta became acquainted with the lucrative spice trade and heard the news of the voyage to be undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan  He survived the challenges and catastrophes that the expedition encountered along the way, including being wounded in the Battle of Mactan. Antonio  He was among the 18 survivors who returned to Spain on Pigafetta September 6, 1522 aboard the Victoria with Juan Sebastian.  Pigafetta reported to his Majesty King Carlos V and gave him a (1491-1534) handwritten account of what happened to them during the journey before returning to his native Italy. The Author   Pigafetta kept a detailed journal of what happened to them from The Book the time they left Seville in 1519 until they returned to Spain three years after. A draft of his formal account of Magellan’s expedition was written after he was advised by his associates.  He presented this to Pope Clement VII, Philippe de Villiers L’Isle- Adam (grandmaster of the Knights of Rhodes and to Louis of Savoy (mother of King Francis I of France), hoping that they would help him finance its publication.  Unfortunately, the original journal of Pigafetta did not survive time (no financier who would pay the deposit required by the printer). What was handed down to us are the copies of the manuscript that were never printed in his lifetime.  Three of the copies were in French and two are kept in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. The third was originally owned by Sir Thomas Phillipps. The fourth copy was written in mixed Italian, Spanish and Venetian languages. An English version was published in 1819 by James Alexander Robertson that appeared in The Philippine Islands opus (Volume 33).  Of the four known primary sources that dealt with the Magellan expedition, Pigafetta’s account is the longest and most comprehensive. It recounted the individual fates of the five ships (Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Santiago, and Victoria) that comprised the Magellan expedition.  It narrated lucidly how they gallantly survived the unforeseen problems and challenges, such as shortage of food, various types of diseases, the crew’s lack of confidence in Magellan’s leadership and the hostile attitude of the people they encountered during the journey.  His writing provided us the glimpse of political, economic and social conditions of the islands in Visayas region during the 16th century. He described vividly the physical appearance, social life, religious beliefs and cultural practices of the people they encountered in the islands of Samar, Leyte, and Cebu.  His account also contains data about the economic activities of the local folks and the goods they offered for trade. He got all this information through the help of Magellan’s slave/interpreter, Enrique de Malacca. Pigafetta likewise gave us an eyewitness account of the death of Magellan in the battle of Mactan.  One of the benefits that the Europeans gained from the crusades was the discovery of some of the products that were not available in their home country. These included porcelain, silk, incense, perfumes, fabrics, carpets, spices, and other oriental products.  Of all of these Asian products, spices became the most expensive and in-demand commodity among Europeans because of their numerous uses such as food preservation, flavor enhancement, and even medicine.  Since spices were a very lucrative commodity, many merchants aspired to monopolize their supply and distribution in the European markets.  Asian goods reached Europe either via the Silk Road or the Arabian-Italian trade route. Both routes were expensive and oftentimes disrupted by wars, natural calamities, and bandits.  o He put up a maritime school that trained sailors who would later discover an eastern sea route going to the Spice Islands ( the modern-day Moluccas Islands) and other islands in Southeast Asia via the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. o This route enabled them to trade directly with the producers of spices and other Oriental goods (land route of the Spice Trade was closed) o The numerous economic benefits it gave to Portugal made other monarchs envious and prompted them to search for a new trade route to Asia. This led to the Prince Henry the discovery of many territories previously unknown to Navigator of Portugal the Europeans, though inhabited already and known to other races.  Background of the Chronicle The marriage of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (1469) coupled with the victory of the monarchs over the Moors in the Battle of Granada resulted in the rise of Spain as a world power. With the domestics problems already under control, Spain started to explore their economic options outside the Iberian Peninsula. Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon Battle of Granada Inspired by the success of Portugal, they aspired to have a fair share in the spice trade. They financed the trans- Atlantic voyages of Christopher Columbus (1492 to 1502) which resulted in the discovery of the territories on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Decades later, the Spanish monarch also supported the plan of Ferdinand Magellan to go to the East by sailing westward, a proposal that Portugal refuse to finance. The Magellan-Elcano expedition left the port of Sanlucar de Barramuda in Seville on August 20, 1519 with around 270 men of different nationalities. One of its main objectives was to search for a new maritime path to the Spice Islands that would not violate Spain’s treaty ( Treaty of Tordesillas) with Portugal. Along the way, the expedition suffered natural and man-made challenges and out of the five ships that left Spain only three reached the Philippines. The local inhabitants traded with them and some were even converted to Christianity. Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain of Mactan, refused to trade with the Spaniards and when Magellan learned this, he waged war with him.  Despite their superiority in term of arms and training, the Spaniards lost the battle and one of the casualties was Magellan himself. When the survivors returned to Cebu, they were also treacherously attacked by their former allies. This prompted them to leave the island. By that time, their number was just enough to man two ships, the Victoria (now under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano) and the Trinidad. The expedition finally reached the Spice Islands and managed to purchase a large amount of spices before leaving. Unfortunately, the Trinidad and her crew were captured by the Portuguese on their journey back. On September 7, 1522, Elcano and 17 survivors arrived Spain aboard the ship Victoria. One of them was Antonio Pigafetta, the assistant of Magellan who kept a journal that became the main source of what we know about the first encounter of the Spaniards of the Filipinos.  Magellan's Expedition Ships Captain Weight No. of (Tons) Crew Victoria Gonzalo Gomez de Espinosa 85 42 Only ship to complete the voyage Trinidad Juan de Cartagena 110 55 Magellan's flag ship Left & captured by the Portuguese San Antonio Luis de Mendoza 120 60 Abandoned the expedition Concepcion Gaspar de Quesada 90 45 Damaged and burned by ( executed, body was drown, the crew quartened & displayed) Santiago Juan Serrano 75 32 Lost at sea/ shipwreck ( executed, body was drown, quartened & displayed)