Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was an explorer who lived during the late 1400s and early 1500s. He was born around 1480 in Portugal. Magellan is known for leading an expedition that became the first to travel all the way around the Earth. This type of journey is called a circumnavigation, which means going completely around the world.

During Magellan’s time, European countries were searching for sea routes to Asia. Asia was important for trade goods such as spices. Sailing routes across land were slow and costly. Magellan believed there was a way to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean and then continuing through unknown waters.

Although Magellan was Portuguese, his plan was supported by King Charles I of Spain. In 1519, Magellan left Spain with five ships and about 270 sailors. The ships sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and down the coast of South America. They searched for a passage through the land to reach another ocean.

In 1520, the expedition found a narrow sea route at the southern end of South America. This route is now called the Strait of Magellan. After passing through it, the ships entered a large ocean that Magellan named the Pacific Ocean, meaning peaceful. The crossing took much longer than expected and many sailors suffered from hunger and disease.

Magellan did not complete the entire journey. In 1521, he was killed during a battle on the island of Mactan in present-day Philippines. After his death, the expedition continued under new leaders. One ship, the 'Victoria, returned to Spain in 1522 with only 18 sailors left.

The return of the Victoria completed the first journey around the Earth. The expedition showed that the Earth was larger than many Europeans had believed. It also showed that oceans around the world were connected. Magellan himself did not finish the voyage, but his leadership made the journey possible.