Bangsa Spanyol
Pelopor bangsa Spanyol yang mencari jalan langsung ke Indonesia adalah Christopher Columbus, ia berjalan kearah barat. Setelah dua bulan, ia sampai di sebuah pulau yang kemudian dinamakan San Salvador. Columbus gagal mencapai India.
Setelah Columbus gagal menemukan India, ekspedisi Spanyol selanjutnya ke daerah rempah – rempah dipelopori oleh Ferinand Magellan. Berbeda dengan armada Portugis, pada tahun 1519 Magellan berangkat melalui Samudera Atlantik. Setelah melewati ujung Amerika Selatan, ia masuk ke Samudera Pasifik. Ia tiba di Filipina pada tahun 1521. sewaktu mencoba mengatasi perang antarsuku di Cebu, Magellan terbunuh. Ia digantikan oleh Del Cano. Dalam perjalanan kembali ke Spanyol, mereka singgah di Tidore. Sejak saat itu, terjalin kerja sama antara Spanyol dan Tidore. Kerja sama itu tidak hanya dalam hal perdagangan, tetapi juga diperkuat dengan dibangunnya benteng Spanyol di Tidore. Kondisi tersebut tentu saja menyebabkan antara Portugis dan Spanyol saat itu, Portugis membuka kantor dagangnya di Ternate. Portugis merasa terancam dengan hadirnya Spanyol di Tidore. Hal ini diperkuat lagi dengan kenyataan bahwa Tidore dan Ternate telah lama bermusuhan. Dengan alasan tersebut, Portugis yang didukung pasukan Tidore. Benteng Spanyol di Tidore dapat direbut Portugis. Namun, berkat perantara Paus di Roma, Portugis dan Spanyol akhirnya mengadakan perjanjian yang disebut Perjanjian Zaragosa. Berdasarkan perjanjian itu, Maluku dikuasai Portugis sedangkan Filipina dikuasai Sepanyol.
Tahun 1521 Spanyol mulai masuk perairan Indonesia, mereka berdiam di pedalaman Minahasa, ke Amurang terus ke Pontak. Setelah beberapa tahun mereka dapat melakukan kontak kembali dengan armada Spanyol yang telah kembali ke Pilipina. Tahun 1522 Spanyol memulai kolonisasi di Sulawesi Utara dan tahun 1560 Spanyol mendirikan pos di manado.
Pada tahun 1550 Spanyol telah mendirikan benteng di Wenang dengan cara menipu Kepala Walak Lolong Lasuk menggunakan kulit sapi dari Benggala India yang dibawa Portugis ke Minahasa. Tanah seluas kulit sapi yang dimaksud Spanyol adalah tanah seluas tali yang dibuat dari kulit sapi itu. Spanyol kemudian menggunakan orang Mongondow untul menduduki benteng Portugis di Amurang pada tahun 1550-an sehingga akhirnya Spanyol dapat menduduki Minahasa. Portugis dan Spanyol merupakan tumpuan kekuatan gereja katholik Roma memperluas wilayah yang dilakukan kesultanan Ottoman di Mediterania pada abad ke-XV.
Selain itu Portugis dan Spanyol juga tempat pengungsian pengusaha dan tenaga-tenaga terampil asal Konstantinopel ketika dikuasai kesultanan Ottoman dari Turki pada 1543. Pemukiman tersebut menyertakan ahli pengetahuan ekonomi dan maritim di Eropa selatan. Sejak itupun Portugis dan Spanyol menjadi adikuasa di Eropa.
Ahli pengetahuan diperoleh dari pendatang asal Konstantinopel yang memungkinkan bagi kedua negeri Hispanik itu melakukan perluasan wilayah-wilayah baru diluar daratan Eropa dan Mediterania. Mulanya perluasa wilayah antara kedua negeri terbagi dalam perjanjian Tordisalles itu, tahun 1492. Potugis kearah Timur dan Spanyol kearah Barat. Dari kesepakatan Tordisalles itu , Portugis
menelusuri dari pesisir pantai Afrika dan samudera Hindia. Sedangkan Spanyol menelusuri Samudra Atlantik, benua Amerika Selatan dan melayari samudera pacific.
Untuk mencegah persaingan di perairan Laut Sulawesi dan Maluku Utara, kedua belah pihak
Namun dalam perjanjian tersebut Spanyol merasa dirugikan karena tidak meraih lintas niaga dengan gugusan kepulauan penghasil rempah-rempah
Pada bulan Februari tahun itu lima kapal Spanyol dengan 370 awak kapal pimpinan Ruy Lopez de Villalobos menuju gugusan Pasific barat dari Mexico. Tujuannya untuk melakukan perluasan wilayah dan sekaligus memperoleh konsesi perdagangan rempah-rempah di Maluku utara. Dari pelayaran ini Villalobos mendarat di gugusan kepulauan Utara disebut Filipina. Sekalipun Filipina tidak
menghasilkan rempah-rempah, tetapi kedatangan Spanyol kepulauan tersebut menimbulkan protes keras dari Portugis, karena kepulauan itu berada di bagian Barat, dilingkungan wilayahnya.
Spanyol tetap menghendaki konsesi niaga rempah-rempah Maluku-Utara yang juga ingin didominasi Portugis. Tetapi Spanyol terdesak oleh Portugis hingga harus mundur ke Filipina. Akibatnya Spanyol kehilangan pengaruh di Sulawesi Utara yang sebelumnya menjadi kantong ekonomi dan menjalin hubungan dengan masyarakat Minahasa. Minahasa juga pernah berperang dengan Spanyol yang dimulai tahun 1617 dan orang-orang Minahasa, terutama dalam hal perdagangan beras, sebagai komoditi utama pada waktu itu.
Perang terbuka terjadi pada tahun 1644-1646. Akhir dari peperangan itu adalah kekalahan total Spanyol, sehingga berhasil diusir oleh para waranei (kesatria-kesatria Minahasa).
Pelayaran Portugis dan Spanyol dalam upaya menemukan daerah penghasil rempah-rempah menimbulkan persaingan. Untuk mengatasi persaingan itu, maka diadakanlah Perjanjian Tordesillas pada tahun 1494. Dalam perjanjian tersebut ditegaskan oleh Paus bahwa dunia dibagi dua bagian. Daerah sebelah Timur dikuasai oleh Portugis dan belahan bumi sebelah Barat untuk Spanyol. Dengan demikian dimulailah pelayaran orang-orang Spanyol.
Berikut ini para penjelajah Spanyol yang melakukan pelayaran ke dunia Timur:
1. Christopher Columbus
Pelayaran Spanyol ke Barat dimulai pada tanggal 3 Agustus 1492 dengan tiga buah kapal yaitu Santa Maria, Nina, dan Pinta. Columbus mulai berlayar mencari sumber rempah-rempah di dunia Timur. Setelah berlayar lebih dari 2 bulan mengarungi Samudra Atlantik, sampailah Columbus di Pulau Guanahani yang terletak di Kepulauan Bahama, Karibia. Ia menduga telah sampai di Kepulauan Hindia Timur yang merupakan sumber rempah-rempah, sehingga menamai penduduk asli di kawasan itu sebagai Indian. Columbus bersama seorang penyelidik bernama Amerigo Vespucci antara tahun 1492 – 1504, berlayar terhitung 4 kali. Mereka menemukan benua baru yang diberi nama Amerika. Jadi penemu Benua Amerika adalah Christopher Columbus. Sejak Columbus menemukan benua Amerika, menyusul pelaut-pelaut Spanyol seperti Cortez dan Pizzaro. Cortez menduduki Mexico pada tahun 1519 dengan menaklukkan suku Indian yaitu Kerajaan Aztec dan suku Maya di Yucatan. Pizzaro, pada tahun 1530 menaklukkan kerajaan Indian di Peru yaitu suku Inca.
2. Ferdinand Magelhaens (Magellan)
Magelhaens di Kepulauan Massava. Kepulauan ini kemudian diberi nama Filipina, mengambil nama Raja Spanyol, Philips II. Dalam suatu pertempuran melawan orang Mactan, Magelhaens gugur (27 April 1521). Sepeninggal Magelhaens, rombongan segera meninggalkan Filipina dipimpin oleh Sebastian del Cano, menuju Kepulauan Maluku. Magelhaens dianggap sebagai orang besar dalam dunia pelayaran karena menjadi orang yang pertama kali berhasil mengelilingi dunia. Raja Spanyol memberi hadiah sebuah tiruan bola bumi. Pada tiruan bola bumi itu dililitkan pita bertuliskan "Engkaulah yang pertama kali mengitari diriku".
b. Penjelajahan Spanyol
Bangsa Spanyol mampu membiayai penjelajahan samudranya setelah Ratu
Isabella dan Raja Ferdinand berhasil menyatukan kerajaan-kerajaan kecil. Para
penguasa Khatolik mengurangi kekuatan para bangsawan, merampingkan birokrasi
pemerintahan, dan menyisihkan orang-orang yang merongrong kekuasaan, yaitu kaum
muslim dan yahudi. Kerajaan Spanyol menjadi sangat kuat.
Ratu Isabella mempercayakan 3 kapalnya dibawah pimpinan Christoper
Columbus. Kapal Santa Maria, Pinta, dan Nina berlabuh pada bulan Oktober 1492 di
sebuah pulau di Karibia. Columbus menamainya San Salvador. Dia mengira pulau itu
adalah bagian dari India. Selama 10 tahun Columbus melakukan 4 kali pelayaran.
Selama itu ia menemukan Haiti yang disebutnya Dominika, lalu San Salvador, Puerto
Rico, Jamaika, Kuba, Trinidad, dan Honduras di Amerika Tengah.
Pelayaran Columbus sangat berguna bagi pelayaran selanjutnya. Columbus dan
teman-temannya juga berhasil meng-Kristenkan orang-orang Indian. Walaupun sedikit
harta yang dibawa pulang Columbus, armadanya telah membuka jalan untuk
penjelajahan lebih jauh. Tahun 1519,
Raja Charles V
mengutus
Ferdinand
Magellan
untuk menemukan jalan langsung ke kepulauan Maluku. Magellan
menyebrangi Atlantik menuju Brazil. Pelayaran berlanjut ke selatan untuk mengitari
ujung benua Amerika. Kemudian, armadanya mengarungi Pasifik sampai Fillipina. Nama
Filipina dipakai untuk menandai keberhasilan
Raja Phillip II
, setelah kepulauan itu
dikuasai tahun1560.
Magellan terbunuh, namun pelayaran dilanjutkan oleh
Juan Sebastian del
Cano.
Armada itu berlayar dari Maluku, lalu ke Timor, menyebrangi samudra Hindia
hingga ke Tanjung Harapan. Akhirnya mereka kembali ke Spanyol setelah melayari
Pantai barat Afrika. Pelayaran ini membuktikan teori Copernicus dan Galileo bahwa
bumi itu bulat, bahkan setelah itu mereka tahu bahwa bumi lebih luas daripada yang
mereka bayangkan.
Beberapa penjelajahan terkenal telah berhasil menemukan pengganti jalur darat yang
dikuasai Sultan Turki. Mereka adalah Bartholomeus Diaz, Vasco da Gama,
dan
Alfonso de Albuquerque
dari Portugis. Sedangkan Spanyol
Mengutus
Christopher Columbus
, pelau Genoa (Italia), dan Ferdinand Magellan.
Bangsa Spanyol
Ia berjalan kearah barat. Setelah dua bulan, ia sampai di sebuah pulau yang kemudian dinamakan San Salvador. Columbus gagal mencapai India. Bahkan Christopher Columbus pernah mencatat misteri yang terjadi di kawasan segitiga bermuda dalam pelayaran penjelajahan
samuderanya. Tahun 1942, saat Colombus bergerak menuju Amerika, ia melintasi Samudera Atlantik yang termasuk kawasan Segitiga Bermuda.
b. Ferinand Magellan
Ia berangkat melalui samudera Atlantik. etelah melewati ujung Amerika Selatan, ia masuk ke Samudera Pasifik. Ia tiba di Filipina pada tahun 1521. sewaktu mencoba mengatasi perang antarsuku di Cebu, Magellan terbunuh. Ia digantikan oleh Del Cano. Dalam perjalanan kembali ke Spanyol, mereka singgah di Tidore. Sejak saat itu, terjalin kerja sama antara Spanyol dan Tidore. Kerja sama itu tidak hanya dalam hal perdagangan, tetapi juga diperkuat dengan dibangunnya benteng Spanyol di Tidore.
2. Bangsa Spanyol Menjajah Indonesia
Pelaut Spanyol berhasil mencapai Kepulauan Maluku pada tahun 1521 setelah terlebih dahulu singgah di Filipina disambut baik oleh rakyat Tidore. Bangsa Spanyol dimanfaatkan oleh rakyat Tidore untuk bersekutu dalam melawan rakyat Ternate. Maka pada tahun 1534, diterbitkan perjanjian Saragosa (tahun 1534) yang isinya antara lain pernyataan bahwa bangsa Spanyol memperoleh wilayah
perdagangan di Filipina sedangkan bangsa Portugis tetap berada di Kepulauan Maluku.
Spanyol :
1. Colombus ( penemu jalan ke Amerika, mendarat di kepulauan Bahama dan Haiti 1492)
Pelayarannya dimulai kea rah barat menyeberangi Samudera Atlantik dan berhasil mendarat di kepulauan Bahama dan menemukan Benua Amerika. Nama Amerika diambil dari nama pendamping Columbus saat melakukan pelayaran, dia adalah Amerigo Vespucci.
1. Ferdinand de Magelhaenz (pengeliling dunia pertama 1519 – 1522)
Ia berlayar ke arah barat mengikuti jejak Columbus. Adapun rute yang ditempuh adalah dari Tanjung Verde (di Lautan Atlantik) menyeberang kea rah selatan hingga mencapai ujung Benua amerika (Selat Magelhaens). Dari sini dia menyeberangi lautan Pasifik kea rah barat dan berhasil mendarat ke Pulau Guam. Dari Pulau Guam pelayaran diteruskan ke Filipina, di Filipina dia mendapat masalah dengan penduduk local hingga dia tewa (1512). Kemudian pelayaran dilanjutkan oleh Juan Sebastian del Cano. Mereka singgah di Maluku untuk membeli rempah-rempah dan dibawa kembali ke Sepanyol.
Elcano served as a naval commander of Charles I of Spain and took part in the expedition to thePhilippines. They set sail with five ships, the Concepción, San
Antonio, Santiago, Trinidad and Victoriawith a fleet of 241 men from Spain in 1519. Elcano participated in a fierce mutiny against Magellan before the armada discovered the passage through South America, the Strait of Magellan. He was spared by Magellan and after five months of hard labour in chains was made captain of thegalleon.[5]The Santiago was later destroyed by a storm. The fleet sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the eastern coast of Brazil and into Puerto San Julián in Argentina. Several days later they discovered a passage now known as the Strait of Magellan located in the southern tip of South America and sailed through the strait. The crew of the San Antonio mutinied and returned to Spain. On 28 November 1520, three ships set sail for the Pacific Ocean and about 19 men died before they reached Guam on 6 March 1521. Conflicts with the nearby island of Rota prevented Magellan and Elcano from resupplying their ships with food and water. They eventually gathered enough supplies and continued on with their journey to the Philippines and remained there for several weeks. Close relationship developed between the Spaniards and the islanders. They took part on converting the Cebuano tribes into Christianity and became involved in tribal warfare between rival Filipino groups in Mactan Island.
On 27 April 1521, Magellan was killed and the Spaniards defeated in the Battle of Mactan. The surviving members of the expedition could not decide who should succeed Magellan. The men finally voted on a joint command with the leadership divided between Duarte Barbosa and João Serrão. Within four days these two were also dead having died by being betrayed by a massacre at a feast at the hands of Rajah Humabon. The mission teetering on disaster, João Lopes de Carvalho took command of the fleet and led it on a meandering journey through the Philippine archipelago.
During this six-month listless journey after Magellan died, and before reaching the Moluccas, Elcano's stature grew as the men became disillusioned with the weak leadership of Carvalho. The two ships, Victoria and Trinidad finally reached the destination of their mission, theMoluccas, on 6 November. They rested and re-supplied in this haven, and filled their holds with the precious cargo of cloves and spice. On 18 December, the ships were ready to leave. Trinidad sprung a leak, and was unable to be repaired. Carvalho stayed with the ship along with 52 others hoping to return later.[6]
The Victoria, commanded by Elcano along with 17 other European survivors of the 240 man expedition and 4 (survivors out of 13) Timorese Asians continued its westward voyage to Spain crossing the Indian and Atlantic Ocean. They eventually reached Sanlúcar de Barrameda on 6 September 1522.[7]
Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian scholar, was a crew member of the Magellan and Elcano expedition. He wrote several documents about the events of the expedition. According to Pigafetta the voyage covered 14,460 leagues about 81,449 kilometers.
after the death of Ferdinand Magellan. Upon his return to Spain, the King presented him with a coat of arms that contained a globe and the phrase: “You Went Around Me First.”
Soldier and Merchant:
In his early years, Elcano was an adventurer, fighting with the Spanish army in Algiers and Italy before settling down as captain/owner of a merchant ship. When he was forced to surrender his ship to Italian companies to which he owned money, he found he had broken Spanish law and had to ask the King for a pardon. Young King Charles V agreed, but on the condition that the skilled sailor and navigator serve with an expedition the King was funding: the search for a new route to the Spice Islands, led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan.
The Magellan Expedition:
Elcano was given the position of ship’s master on board the Concepción, one of five ships making up the fleet. Magellan believed that the globe was smaller than it actually is, and that a shortcut to the Spice Islands (now known as the Maluku Islands in present-day Indonesia) was possible by going through the New World. Spices such as cinnamon and cloves were immensely valuable in Europe at the time and a shorter route would be worth a fortune to whoever found it. The fleet set sail in September of 1519 and made its way to Brazil, avoiding Portuguese settlements due to hostilities between the Spanish and Portuguese.
Mutiny:
As the fleet made its way south along the coast of South America looking for a passage west, Magellan decided to call a halt in the sheltered bay of San Julián, as he feared continuing in bad weather. Left idle, the men began talk of mutinying and heading back to Spain. Elcano was a willing participant, and had by then assumed command of the ship San Antonio. At one point, Magellan ordered his flagship to fire on the San Antonio. In the end, Magellan put down the mutiny and had many of the leaders killed or marooned. Elcano and others were pardoned, but not until after a time of forced labor on the mainland.
To the Pacific:
Around this time, Magellan lost two ships: the San Antonio returned to Spain (without permission) and the Santiago sank, although all of the sailors were rescued. By this time, Elcano was captain of the Concepción, a decision of Magellan’s that probably had much to do with the fact that the other experienced ships captains were executed or marooned after the mutiny or had gone back to Spain with the San Antonio. In October-November of 1520 the fleet explored the islands and waterways at the southern tip of South America, eventually finding a passage through that to this day is known as the Strait of Magellan.
Across the Pacific:
found he could communicate with the natives through one of his men, who spoke Malay: they had reached the eastern edge of the world known to Europe.
Death of Magellan:
In the Philippines, Magellan befriended the King of Zzubu, who was eventually baptized with the name of “Don Carlos.” Unfortunately, Don Carlos convinced Magellan to attack a rival chieftain for him, and Magellan was one of several Europeans killed in the ensuing battle. Magellan was
succeeded by Duarte Barbosa and Juan Serrao, but both were treacherously killed by “Don Carlos” within a few days. Elcano was now second in command of the Victoria, under Juan Carvalho. Low on men, they decided to destroy the Concepción and head back to Spain in the two remaining ships: the Trinidad and the Victoria.
Return to Spain:
Heading across the Indian Ocean, the two ships made a stop in Borneo before finding themselves at the Spice Islands, their original goal. Packed with valuable spices, the ships set out again. About this time, Elcano replaced Carvalho as captain of the Victoria. The Trinidad soon had to return to the Spice Islands, however, as it was leaking badly and eventually sank. Many of the Trinidad’s sailors were captured by the Portuguese, although a handful managed to find their way to India and from there back to Spain. The Victoria sailed on cautiously, as they had gotten word that a Portuguese fleet was looking for them.
Reception in Spain:
Miraculously evading the Portuguese, Elcano sailed the Victoria back into Spain on September 6, 1522. The ship was crewed by only 22 men: 18 European survivors of the voyage and four Asians they had picked up en route. The rest had died, deserted or, in some cases, had been left behind as unworthy of sharing in the spoils of the rich cargo of spices. The King of Spain received Elcano and granted him a coat of arms bearing a globe and the Latin phrase Primus circumdedisti me, or “You Went Around Me First.”
Death of Elcano and Legacy:
In 1525, Elcano was picked to be chief navigator for a new expedition led
by Spanish nobleman García Jofre de Loaísa, who intended to retrace
Magellan’s route and establish a permanent colony on the Spice Islands.
The expedition was a fiasco: of seven ships, only one made it to the Spice
Islands, and most of the leaders, including Elcano, perished of
malnutrition during the arduous Pacific crossing.
most, although there is a statue to him in his hometown of Getaria, Spain
and the Spanish navy once named a ship after him.
One of the greatest explorers of the Age of Discovery, Ferdinand Magellan is best known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, although he personally did not complete the route, perishing in the South Pacific. A determined man, he overcame personal obstacles, mutinies, uncharted seas and biting hunger and malnutrition during the course of his voyage. Today, his name is synonymous with discovery and exploration.
Early Years and Education:
Fernão Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan is an anglicized version of his name) was born in approximately 1480 in the small Portuguese town of Villa de Sabroza. As the son of the mayor, he led a privileged childhood, and at an early age he went to the royal court in Lisbon to serve as page to the Queen. He was very well educated, studying with some of the finest tutors in Portugal, and from an early age showed an interest in navigation and exploration.
The De Almeida Expedition:
As a well-educated and well-connected young man, it was easy for Magellan to sign on with many of the different expeditions departing from Spain and Portugal at the time. In 1505 he accompanied Francisco De Almeida, who had been named Viceroy of India. De Almeida had a fleet of twenty heavily-armed ships, and they sacked Islamic settlements and established towns and forts in north-eastern Africa along the way. Magellan fell out of favor with De Almeida around 1510, however, when he was accused of illegally trading with Islamic locals. He returned to Portugal in disgrace, and offers to join new expeditions dried up.
From Portugal to Spain:
Magellan was convinced that a new route to the lucrative Spice Islands could be found by going through the New World. He presented his plan to the King of Portugal, Manuel I, but was rejected, possibly because of his past problems with De Almeida. Determined to get funding for his trip, he went to Spain, where he was granted an audience with Charles V, who agreed to finance his journey. By August of 1519, Magellan had five ships: the Trinidad (flagship), Victoria, San Antonio, Concepción and the Santiago. His crew of 270 men were mostly Spanish, as the Spanish crown did not fully trust the Portuguese Magellan.
Departure from Spain, Mutiny and the Wreck of the Santiago:
At one point, Magellan was forced to open fire on the San Antonio. He reasserted command and executed or marooned most of those responsible, pardoning the others.
The Strait of Magellan:
The four remaining ships headed south, searching for passage around South America. Between October and November, 1520, they navigated through the islands and
waterways on the continent’s southern tip: the passage they found is today known as the Strait of Magellan. They discovered Tierra del Fuego and, on November 28, 1520, a tranquil-looking body of water: Magellan named it the Mar Pacífico, or Pacific Ocean. During the exploration of the islands, the San Antonio deserted, returning to Spain and taking much of the remaining provisions with it, forcing the men to hunt and fish for food. Across the Pacific:
Convinced the Spice Islands were only a short sail away, Magellan led his ships across the Pacific, discovering the Marianas Islands and Guam. Although Magellan named them the Islas de las Velas Latinas (Islands of the Triangular Sails) the name Islas de los Ladrones (Islands of Thieves) stuck, because locals made off with one of the landing boats after giving Magellan’s men some supplies. Pressing on, they landed on Homonhon Island in the present-day Philippines. Magellan found he could communicate with the people, as one of his men spoke Malay. He had reached the Eastern edge of the world known to Europeans.
Death of Magellan:
Homonhon was uninhabited, but Magellan’s ships were seen and contacted by some locals who led them to Cebu, home of Chief Humabon, who befriended Magellan.
Humabon and his wife even converted to Christianity along with many of the locals, but then convinced Magellan to attack Lapu-Lapu, a rival chieftain on nearby Mactan Island. On April 17, 1521, Magellan and some of his men attacked a much larger force of
islanders, trusting their armor and advanced weapons to win the day. The attack was fought off, however, and Magellan was among those who were killed. Efforts to ransom his body failed: it was never recovered.
Return to Spain:
Leaderless and short on men, the remaining sailors decided to burn the Concepción and return to Spain. The two ships managed to find the Spice Islands and loaded up the holds with valuable cinnamon and cloves. As they crossed the Indian Ocean, however, the Trinidad began to leak: it eventually sank, although some of the men made it to India and from there back to Spain. The Victoria kept going, losing several men to starvation: it arrived in Spain on September 6, 1522, more than three years after it had left. There were only 18 sickly men crewing the ship, a fraction of the 270 who had set out.
Legacy of Ferdinand Magellan:
circumnavigate the globe. Elcano had begun the voyage as master on board the Concepción.
There are two written records of the journey: the first was a journal kept by Italian passenger (he paid to go on the trip!) Antonio Pigafetta and the second was a series of interviews with the survivors made by Maximilianus of Transylvania upon their return. Both documents reveal a fascinating voyage of discovery.
The Magellan expedition was responsible for several major discoveries. In addition to the Pacific Ocean and numerous islands, waterways and other geographic information, the expedition also sighted a great many new animals, including penguins and guanacos. The discrepancies between their log book and the date when they returned to Spain led directly to the concept of the International Date Line. Their measurements of distances traveled helped contemporary scientists determine the size of the earth. They were the first to sight certain galaxies visible in the night sky, now aptly known as the Magellanic Clouds. Although the Pacific had been first discovered in 1513 by Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, it is Magellan's name for it that stuck (Balboa called it the "South Sea").
Immediately upon the return of the Victoria, European sailing ships began trying to duplicate the voyage, including an expedition led by surviving captain Elcano. It wasn’t until Sir Francis Drake’s 1577 voyage, however, that anyone really managed to do it again. Still, the knowledge gained immensely advanced the science of navigation at the time.
Today, Magellan’s name is synonymous with discovery and exploration. Telescopes and spacecraft bear his name, as does a region in Chile. Perhaps because of his untimely demise, his name does not have the negative baggage associated with Christopher Columbus, blamed by many for subsequent atrocities in the lands he discovered.
