Magellan's epic voyage retold

What do you know about Ferdinand Magellan?
1. Ferdinand Magellan was born in
a) Portugal
b) Spain
c) France
2. He was
a) a doctor
b) an explorer
c) a pirate
3. He was the first European to cross
a) the Atlantic Ocean
b) the Indian Ocean
c) the Pacific Ocean
4. Magellan’s historic circumnavigation started in
a) 1518
b) 1519
c) 1520
5. Magellan
a) finished his voyage
b) was killed in India
c) was killed in the Philippines



Find the answers here.

Now read part a BBC text about Magellan and his circumnavigation voyage.

Five hundred years ago a stricken ship, the Victoria, limped into the port of Seville. Its crew of 18 were all that was left of the 265 men that started out three years earlier. They were half-dead from starvation and disease, having just completed a voyage that would change the course of history and profoundly shape the way we live today.

Victoria was part of a fleet of five ships commanded by Ferdinand Magellan. His objective was to get to the unimaginable riches of the Spice Islands through the New World, making Spain the richest country in the world. And of course Magellan would have the fame and share the wealth.
Magellan never planned to, wanted to, or indeed did, sail around the world.

When he set off on this voyage, the plan was to get to the Spice Islands and then return the same way back. Yet, still today in many countries, it is Magellan who gets the credit for being the first person to circumnavigate. But the reality is that it was another great man, Juan Sebastian Elcano, who has the honour of being the first circumnavigator.

The Portuguese controlled the known route eastwards to the Spice Islands so Magellan had to pioneer a new route westwards. No-one had ever sailed this way before. The fleet of five ships set off across the Atlantic. It was a hair-raising passage. After months of searching the east coast of South America, Magellan was faced with the fact that he could not find a passage west. He was forced to endure a brutal winter which included a starvation diet, freezing conditions, mutiny and murder.

You can read more about the Nao Victoria, a perfect replica of the original Victoria, which completed a re-creation of the journey this year.

Key: Click here with your cursor mouse>>1a; 2b; 3c; 4b; 5c