Ferdinand Magellan 1480-1521: The circumnavigation of the globe!

At the beginning of the 15th century it was getting harder and harder to meet the demand for exotic spices. On Vasco Da Gamas eastward route to India, ships had to sail for very long and pirates and buccaneers attacked a lot of ships and because of this, and the harsh storms at the Cape of Good Hope a lot of ships were lost at sea. Because of this King Charles I. of Spain () provided five ships to find a western sea route to India.

August 10th 1519: The flagship Trinidad leaves port under the command of Ferdinand Magellan.
November 20th 1519: The five ships cross the equator.
Dezember 13th 1519: The Trinidad and her escort ships anchor in the South American bay of Rio De Janeiro.
November 28th 1520: In spite of several mutinies, the ships reach the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean got it's name because the seas were calm when Magellan first reached it after a ferocious storm battered the ship for at least 36 hours earlier. Today the passage discovered by Magellan is called the strait of Magellan. From that day on Europe was provided with spices from Asia using a western sea route.
April 27th 1521: Ferdinand Magellan dies of battle injuries he received in the Philippines.
September 6th 1522: The Victoria under her Captain Juan Sebastián Elcano is the only ship of the convoy to make it back home safely. He used Vasco da Gamas route around the Cape of Good Hope to return to Spain.

The circumnavigation of the globe was done! Even though it wasn´t Magellans intent to circumnavigate the globe when he started his voyage, his expedition was the first to make it. Because of this Magellan is perceived as one of the greatest seaman of all time!

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Ferdinand Magellan 1480-1521: The circumnavigation of the globe!