First Voyage Around the World

Voyage – is a long journey involving travel by sea or space.

Similar: Trip, Expedition, Tour

Background of the Author

 Known by the name of Antonio Lombardo or Francisco Antonio Pigafetta.

 Pigafetta was born in a wealthy Vicenza family in 1491 and died in the same city in 1534.
 In his youth he studied astronomy, geography, and cartography.
 He was also an Italian seafarer and geographer.
 He joined the expedition to the Spice Islands led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan under the flag of
King Charles I of Spain and, after Magellan’s death in the Philippines, the subsequent of voyage
around the world.
Historical Background of the Document

 Spices were considered high demand and a very profitable commodity among Europeans.
 Commerce intensified the rivalry between Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula.
 Both were in perfect locations to begin exploring Africa and planning on going around Africa to
reach the Spice Islands in Asia
 The rivalry between Spain and Portugal became so intense that the two governments had to ask the
Pope to divide the New World into parts that would be Portuguese.
 After his plan was rejected by Portugal, the Spaniards supported Magellan’s plan to travel
 1519 - Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain with 5 ships to find a western route to the Moluccas.
Ferdinand led the five Spanish ships and 237 men in what was to become the first voyage around the
world. The expedition experience challenges along the way; out of the five ships that was provided by
King Charles V that left Spain, only three reached the Philippines.

FIVE
SHIPS
1) Santiago
 Under the command of Juan Serrano
 Crew: 32
 Called as a “caravel”
 Smallest of the five ships

2) San Antonio
 Under the command of Juan De Cartegena soon led by Alvarado De Mesquita
 Crew: 60
 The largest in the fleet
 Sailed back to Spain
 The second ship that has been lost

3) Conception
 Under the command of Gaspar de Quesada
 Crew: 45
 Captain was executed because of a mutiny.
 Burned
 The third ship that has been lost.

4) Trinidad
 Under the command of Ferdinand Magellan
 The Flagship
 Crew: 55
 Was attacked by a Portuguese ship.

5) Victoria
 Under the command of Luiz Mendoza, soon led by Juan Sebastian Elcano
 Crew: 43
 The ship where Antonio Pigafetta was on board.
 The first ship that circumnavigated the world.
 The only ship to complete the voyage. Left shipwrecked.
 The fourth ship that has been lost.

 First ship that has been lost

Historical Background of the Document
 Pigaffeta’s journal became our primary source of knowledge.
 His original journal has been lost, and it is unknown what language he wrote it in.
 Copies of the manuscript were given to us; three of them were written in French, two versions
are at the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.
 The third edition was previously owned by Thomas Philipp, a British collector.
Understanding the Historical Information

1. Socio-cultural significance

- The descriptions of the natives reflect the early lives of the Visayan ancestors.

2. Political significance

- The journal shows that even before the pre-colonial Philippines had its own political
system.

3. Economic significance
- They had the barter system wherein they exchange their goods for something that they
want or need.

DATES
 March 16, 1521: arrival on Zamal (Samar)
 March 17, 1521: landed on another deserted island to the right of the Zamal.
 On March 18, 1521, there came some natives giving signs of joy for the presence of the crew of
Magellan.

 Friday, March 22, 1521: men from Zuluan came and gave them two boats with coconuts, sweet
oranges, a jar of palm-wine, and a chicken.

 March 25, 1521: Pigafetta fell off the boat and was rescued by a small boat
 March 28, 1521: saw a fire on an island the night before and anchored near it.
 March 29, 1521 (Holy Friday): The Captain-General and the King of Zamatra met
 March 31, 1521: First mass
 April 7, 1521(Sunday): entered the port of Zubu(Cebu)
 April 8, 1521 (Monday): The captain general’s notary and interpreter went to Zubu to meet the King
 April 9, 1521 (Tuesday): the king of Mazaua came to their ships.

PLACES

 Islands of Ladroni – Islands of thieves

 Island of Zamal (Samar) – an uninhabited island where they took shelter.

 Island of Humunu (Homonhon) – a place where they found two springs of the clearest water.

 Butuan and Calagan – the first mass site

 Ceylon, Zubu Calaghann – best ports to get food

 Islands of Ladroni – Islands of thieves
 Island of Zamal (Samar) – an uninhabited island where they took shelter.

 Island of Humunu (Homonhon) – a place where they found two springs of the clearest water.

 Butuan and Calagan – the first mass site

 Ceylon, Zubu Calaghann – best ports to get food.

 Mazaua – where they remained for seven days.

 Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and Gatighan – the five islands they passed through.

 Gatighan – bats were as large as eagles.

 Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon – islands where they waited for the king of Mazaua.

PERSONALITIES
 Captain-General – Ferdinand Magellan
 Raia Colambu & Raia Siaui – kings that took part in the mass.

Factors that could have influenced Antonio Pigafetta in the writing of the document?
 The primary reason of Antonio Pigafetta in writing the document is to discover and learn about the
world. He wanted to record details and information during the expedition which caused him to join
the voyage and serve as an assistant to Magellan. Magellan desired to prove that the world was round
and through his investigation, he proved it. However, they so much circumstance leaving Magellan
dead while Pigafetta managed to survive along with his journal.
 In conclusion, Pigafetta’s hope of learning about the world which drives him to write documents
became a significant part of today’s history. His daily notes were the basis of how the world’s first
circumnavigation was and be understood with certainly. He encountered new people for our basis
today- know what they look like, where they live, what they eat, what they say, and gives us pages of
words to give a barrage of detail.

Relevance/Contribution of the document in Philippine History

 The document is one of the early proof of life in the Visayas Region. Pigafetta’s work is not only as
a source of information about the voyage itself, but also includes an early Western description of the
people, language and the traditions of the Philippines. The voyage of Pigafetta transformed
people's own conception of their place in the earth.
 Antonio Pigafetta is the key player of one of the most amazing trips around the world. Pigafetta is
part of the group of Ferdinand Magellan. The document tells how Magellan starts the voyage (travel
around the world and tells how they treasured the friendship of the two kings which is Rajah
Colambu and Rajah Humabon.
 The relevance of his own venture lies in the fact that he took part of the first globe circumnavigation
with Magellan and his crews. The document written by Pigafetta is accomplished after the murder of
Magellan. It is leaving a detailed description and report of the journey of his first voyage around the
world.

Main Argument
 The aim of the journey was to reach the Spice Islands, today known as the Maluku Islands.
 Spices were used to season meat and fish, enhancing flavors or camouflaging those brought about by
the conditions of storage.
 The search for spices continued into subsequent centuries.