Andrea Mikaela R.

Demata BSN 1-E

September 11, 2020
Content and Contextual Analysis: First Voyage Around the World

First Voyage Around the World

1. Author's background  Born sometime in 1490 in Vicenza,

(Antonio Pigafetta (1490 – c.1534) Venice, Italy
)  Eldest son of Giovanni Pigafetta to
second wife Angela Zoga
 Studied astronomy, geography and
cartography
 Worked in the ships owned by the
Knights of Rhodes.
 Well educated young man,
possessing an avid
 curiosity of the world around him.
 Joined the delegation of Monsignor
Francesco
Chieregati when he was assigned as
Papal
Nuncio to Spain in 1519.
 Due to this, he became acquainted
with the
lucrative spice trade and heard the
news of the voyage to be
undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan.
 Survived the challenges and
catastrophes that the
expedition encountered along the way
and he
even got wounded in the Battle of
Mactan.
 Returned to Spain on September 6,
1522 aboard
the Victoria with Juan Sebastian
Elcano and
more than a dozen more survivors.
 He presented himself to Charles V
along with a.
handwritten account of their journey.
 Unfortunately, his account was not
published
during his lifetime because he was
not able to
find a financer.
2. Historical background of the Spices became the most expensive and in
document demand commodity among Europeans
because of their numerous uses. Originally,
they used them to preserve foods and keep
them from spoiling. Later, they found out that
spices have medicinal uses and may also be
used for flavoring, coloring and as food
additives. Since it was a very lucrative
commodity, many merchants aspired to
monopolize its supply and distribution in the
European markets. The crusades led to the
discovery of products not available in europe
(euro-centric POV). Ex. Porcelain, silk,
spices, incense, ―oriental‖ products in
general). he rivalry between Spain and
Portugal in the Iberian Peninsula was
exacerbated by trade as both were
interested in exploring and developing trade.
Both were located in ideal places to start
exploring Africa and trying to find a way to
the Spice Islands in Asia. The competition
between Spain and Portugal became heated
enough that the two countries had to get the
pope to divide up the New World into parts
that would be Spanish and parts that would
be Portuguese.
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
The Royal Crown of Spain supported the
plan of Ferdinand Magellan to go to the east
by sailing westward, a proposal that was not
supported by 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.
Magellan‘s voyage was instrumental in
introducing Christianity in the Philippines but
it also cost his life after the Spaniards lost in
the Battle of Mactan. With only two ships,
the survivors of Magellan were able to reach
the Spice Island and on September 7, 1522,
Juan Sebastian Elcano and 17 more mighty
survivors arrived in Spain aboard the ship
Victoria.

A1. Pigafetta classified the people he

3. Content Analysis:  Understanding
encountered in the Philippines:
the historical information.
 Women go naked with just only a
A. Identify and describe the customs piece of strip covering their intimate
area.
and traditions mentioned in the
 Most are bearded, long hair, and
document that have:
have red and black teeth.
1. Socio-cultural significance  In terms of gender roles, women don’t

2. Political significance work in fields. Instead, they’re more

focused into household chores,
3. Economic significance 
weaving mats and baskets and other
stuff that relates to their home.
 Pigafetta showed appreciation how
they can produce products like oil,
vingar and milk out of their natural
resources. He acknowledged our
natives for being resourceful and
creative when it comes to their work.
 They encountered different tribes with
different cultures and practices which
are increasingly being civilized each
time the Spaniards see another tribe.
 Their practice also mandated that
their king should be presented
elegantly with all of the finest gold
including their dishes and clothing
that was only made available for him.
 As a sign of respect, and as an act of
politeness, the king kissed their
hands with great joy before they left.
A2.
 Our native’s hierarchy were classified
by their leader called as “datu” who
had plenty of tattoos and also wore
gold.
 During the time of Magellan, it was
ruled by a monarchical government
wherein their leader was being called
as “captain general” or “king”.
 Another political tie made by the
Spaniards and the king was their
mission to demolish the ship of the
king’s opponents and the Sandugo.
 Politics were also recognized through
the offerings they gave to each other.
Wherein, these offerings was a way
of reconciliation of relationships for
different countries which is a sign of
early political agenda.
 Religion in the form of cross was also
observed and was made as a symbol
for their friendship.
A3. At that time, the natives did not have any
currency to offer, so they settled to trade
their resources.
 The country is rich in terms of its
resources.
 The people brought an ample amount
of porringer full of rice and also
bananas to trade or “barter” them for
a knife which costs approximately 3
Calzini.
 No wonder why many neighboring
countries have traded with us even
before the Spaniards navigated the
Philippines.
 The barter that happened in Zamal
where they requested food to be sent
before them and offered them mirrors,
combs, bells, red caps, ivory and
other stuff. They even put up a jar of
palm wine which they call “urraca”.
 It was evident in every part of
Pigafetta’s account that the
Philippines has abundant resources
to offer like gold, armlets, amd
earrings, oil and milk. Wherein natural
resources are in the form of cats,
swine, fowls, goats, rice, ginger,
coconuts, figs [i.e., bananas],
oranges, lemons, millet, panicum,
sorgo, wax, and a quantity of gold.
A. DATES
B. Identify and describe the
 March 16, 1521 (dawn of Saturday) –
mentioned:
the Spanish colonizers arrived at
a. Dates Zamal

b. Places  March 17, 1521 – their captain

desired to land at Humunu
c. Personalities
(Homonhon) and which he named,
Acquada da li buoni
Segnialli (―the Watering-place of
Good Signs) and later the entire
group of island as Archepalago of St.
Lazaro.
 March 18, 1521 – they met and
exchanged goods with our ancestors
from the island of Zuluan
 March 25, 1521 – they weight
anchored and changed course toward
west southwest.
 March 28, 1521, they anchored near
the island of Mazaua (Limasawa) and
they met the king who came in
balanghai.
 March 29, 1521 (Holy Friday) – they
finally met the king who entered their
ship
 March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) –
they went ashore to say mass and set
up cross on the summit of the
mountain
 April 7, 1521 (Sunday) – they entered
the port of Zubu (Cebu)
 Monday – their notary together with
their interpreter went ashore to met
with the king of Zubu
 Tuesday – the king of Mazaua and
later the prince of Zubu went aboard
their ship
 Wednesday – they consecrated the
place and buried their two dead crews
 Friday – they showed our ancestors
with different merchandise
 April 14, 1521 (Sunday) – they
baptized our ancestors from Zubu
and few from neighboring islands
 April 26, 1521 (Friday) – Raia Zula
came to seek help to fight the other
chief of Matan, Cilapulapu
 April 27, 1521 (Saturday) – the
Spaniards wave ashore in the island
of Mactan and fighting commenced
between them and men of Raia
Cilapulapu and led to the death of
Magallanes.
 May 1, 1521 (Wednesday) – 21
Spaniards were massacred by the
Zubuanos thus forcing the remaining
Spaniards to depart Zubu immediatel.
B. PLACES
In the book, the first arrival of the Navigators
in the Philippines was in Zamal, but the
other presented that it was in Humunu, the
small desert island in which they called the
“The watering place of good signs” because
of the first traces of gold were found there
near at Samar. The Mazzava in the book
was translated into Limasaua which is used
only as a place of recreation by the two
kings, who go there visit one another and
hunt. The Molucca was Molucho in the
article. They differ in spelling but garnering
the same meaning, the place were Magellan
looking for. The book didn’t mentioned
regarding fate of the ships of the navigators
along their circumnavigation while the article
I’ve had read stated that the Conception was
burned when the three ships vessels
proceed to Bohol together with Victoria and
Trinidad. Moreover, they experienced the
pushing on amid stormy weather in the
island of Sarangani, while on the other hand,
according to Lord Stanley’s translation about
night fall whilst coasting the island of
Birabam Batolac where they met the very
great storm that made themselves bestowed
in prayer. The Zzubu, place where there are
many villages and houses built on trees was
written Cébu in James Robertson’s
translation. Thus, mainly, there are only few
confusing places of arrivals and happenings
of the voyagers vary that springs from the
two sources of information.
C. PERSONALITIES
 Ferdinand Magellan (Portugese –
Fernao de Magalhaes) – captain-
general (leader) of the expedition.
 Antonio Pigafetta (Italian) – official
chronicler of the expedition.
 Raia Colambu (Raja Kulambu) – king
of Mazaua (Limasawa)
 Raia Siaui (Raja Siagu) – king of
Butuan
 Raia Humabon – king of Zubu (Cebu)
 Raia Cilapulapu and Raia Zula -
chiefs (kings) of Matan (Mactan)
His work was acknowledged as the
4. Contextual Analysis:
world’s first documentation of
What are the factors that could have circumnavigation. It was Pigafetta’s venture
influenced Antonio Pigafetta in the to inscribe the details of their expedition. His
writing of the document?  Explain. voyage was considered as the greatest
single achievement of possessing bravery in
sailing the perilous sea to discover the new
world and the island of spice, the Molucca.
The description and leagues of each places,
appearances, attributes and personalities of
the people, the foods, events, vocabularies,
and different happenings were detailed by
the Italian Chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta on
his hand written journal in every occurred
day by day of their voyage and
circumnavigation dynamically from east to
west along their western route to the
Molucca Island. There were five ships sailed
across the venturesome and parlous ocean
such as Trinidad (110 tons, 55 crew),
Conception (90 tons, 45 crew) , Santiago (75
tons, 32 crew), and San Antonio (120 tons,
60 crew) and Victoria (85 tons, 42 Crew) a
Spanish carrack and the first ship to
successfully circumnavigate the world who
were composed of only 18 men that were
able to return alive, including Antonio
Pigafetta. This navigation of the Spaniards in
the Philippines simply implies the cultures
and victuals of the Filipino people during this
era and served as proof of the Philosophy of
Pythagoras, an early Greek philosopher
alluded to a spherical Earth.
5. What is the relevance / contribution The Pigafetta document gave a detailed
of the document in Philippine history? chronicle of the significant events of the
exploration of Ferdinand Magellan. It
provided a description, location and
distances of the places visited thereby
enhancing the knowledge of cartography at
that time. The chronicle contributed
immensely to European historiography
because it preserved and popularized the
achievements of the Magellan-Elcano
expedition. There was an evidence of
agricultural activities based on their product.
They engaged in trade with neighboring
countries such as China. As described,
Filipinos have their unique musical
instruments; They have arts as seen in their
bodies being tattooed (in some villages);
Performed rituals during dining and some
gatherings; Worship of anitos (wooden idols)
and ritual for healing of ill persons. The
documents narrated the conversion of early
Filipinos into Christianity. These documents
are being used in today’s generation as
source of historical information every time
they discuss the beginning of Christianity in
the Philippines. Their accounts about the
first mass in the Philippines, the conversion
of Rajah Humabon and his wife and the
story of the image of the Sto. Nino were
mostly taken from Pigafetta‘s document.
The main argument of the author is mainly
the three G’s of the Spanish expedition;
Glory, Gold, and God. The voyage itself was
also his main point with their experiences
6. What are the author's main during their journey as they encounter
arguments? different lands to gather spices across the
world and that also includes the culture and
the society of the Philippines as this
document was able to record their first
interaction with our ancestors.
7. Your own overall observation and Antonio Pigafetta was one of the survivors
insights on the primary source  who kept a journal that became the main
source about the first encounter of the
Spaniards and the Filipinos. This account is
widely circulated in the Philippines.
Pigafetta's travelogue contributed immensely
to the enrichment of Philippine
historiography. His writing 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
information about the economic activities of
the local folks and the goods they offered for
trade. Lastly, Pigatfetta’s served as an
eyewitness account of the Battle of Mactan
which resulted to the death of Magellan and
him getting wounded. To conclude, the
account shows how the Spaniards were very
interested of the Philippines since they also
respect and value our culture and traditions,
how they were able to build a good
relationship despite of how culture-shocked
they were when they first arrive in the
Philippines.