As a fierce storm battered the ship, Ferdinand Magellan’s crew started to panic. Was the Portuguese explorer leading them to a watery grave? Magellan remained calm. He knew if his expedition found a new sea route to Asia from Europe, he’d be as famous as Christopher Columbus. But first he’d have to survive the trip!
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Illustrations by Leah Tiscione
Five hundred years ago, Magellan and his five ships set sail to find a secret shortcut.
Racing for Fame and Fortune
Album/Alamy Stock Photo
For centuries, cabin boys as young as 10 did lowly tasks like scrubbing ship decks.
In the 1500s, countries in Europe raced to claim land around the world, hoping for riches and power. Magellan declared that he could discover a western route to the faraway Spice Islands, which produced
Magellan got five ships from the Spanish king, and he hired a crew of more than 230 men and boys. The
When the ships reached South America, they spent months searching for a strait. Many sailors wanted to turn back. Three of the ships’ captains even tried to overthrow Magellan! But the explorer struck back. He fired cannons at one of the rebel ships and captured it. The uprising fell apart.
Did Magellan Make It?
In October 1520, Magellan’s bet paid off. He found the strait! But it turned out to be a terrifying maze through icy glaciers. When the ships emerged on the other side into a calm ocean, Magellan named it Mar Pacifico, or Pacific Ocean. Pacifico means “peaceful” in Portuguese.
The smooth sailing didn’t last. The ocean was much bigger than anyone had imagined. Soon, all the crew had to eat were wormy biscuits, rats, and sawdust. The men were relieved when they reached the islands now known as the Philippines.
Magellan set about claiming islands for Spain, angering some natives. They killed Magellan, and his men fled. A few made it to the Spice Islands, where they loaded up on spices and headed home.
Three years after Magellan left Spain, only one of his ships returned, with just 18 men. Spain still called the trip a success—it now controlled the Spice Islands. Magellan’s expedition was also the first to circle the globe. And the path the explorer found through South America still bears his name—the Strait of Magellan.
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