VILLANUEVA, CIELO KASSANDRA L.

GHIST 1658

BSA 1 BLOCK 8

EVALUATE

Context Analysis

Title of the document where the selected text came from:

Excerpt from Antonio Pigafetta , Primo Viaggio Intorno Al Mondo in, in E.H. Blair
and J.A. Robertson. The Philippine Islands , vol XXXIII, pp. 175-187

Original language of the document: Italian

Language used in Translation: English

Translator : James Alexander Robertson

Author’s Name: Antonio Pigafetta

Birth (Date and Place): Born in Italy in 1491

Death: Pigafetta died in 1531

Relevant information about the author that would link the author to the primary
source:

Pigafetta was one of the 18 men who was able to survive the battle of
Mactan. He was the one who wrote the account that narrated the events
that have transpired during the battle.

Date of writing and/or Publication of the original document:

The document was published in 1550s by Italian historian Giovanni Battista

Ramusio.

Author’s purpose for writing the document:

The author’s purpose is to narrate the events that happened in 1521, he wrote
the document to inform the readers of the events that transpired during the
battle. And he wrote the document as for the reason that it will come down in
the history and will be discussed from generation to generation.
What was happening in history around the time that the document was written?

Battle of Mactan was happening, it was when Ferdinand Magellan’s side and
Lapu-Lapu’s side fought because according to my readings, Magellan was an
invader who’s not just there to find spices but with the intent of conquering the
country.

Who was the intended audience of the document?

Everybody is the intended audience of the document as it will give us all a

better knowledge and understanding of the events that have happened in
that battle, and also it written for us to be able to have at least a brief
knowledge of the history and how Lapu-Lapu and his warriors defended the
Philippines from the Spaniards.

Content Analysis
What is the main topic of, the selected text analyzed?

The main topic of the text is how the battle of Mactan has transpired and it
also gave emphasis to the things that the warriors had undergone in the said
battle.

Who were the groups or people mentioned?

Zula – a chief of the island of Mactan.
Cilapulapu – another chief.
The Christain King
The Captain (Magellan)
Indians
People of Mactan
Duarte Barboza - a Portuguese and a relative of the captain
Johann Seranno – a Spaniard
Henrich – interpreter
Donia Beatrice – wife of the captain-general
San Martin de Sivilla – the astrologer
Johan Carvaio

What were the places mentioned?

The Philippine Island
Mactan
 Moro
Spain

What were the key topics discussed? Enumerate in numbered or bullet form.
How the Battle of Mactan started and came to an end.
How the Captain was killed.
How the Spaniards survive the battle.
How the warriors of Cilapulapu conquered the foreigners.

If there are any, what are the personal biases, suspected errors or misleading
statements of the author that showed up in the document? Name at least 2.

1. I think the biased part of the document is how the author made the
Philippine’s side/warriors look thirsty for blood, he made them look like
they enjoyed killing the foreigners by the way he described the battle
and the way their captain was killed.
2. He also made it look like Cilapulapu’s side mercilessly attacked them
without any reason despite the claims on the other documents that the
Spaniards came to the Philippine island to colonize it.

What do you think is the historical significance of this document?

As for my personal understanding of this document, it’s historical significance is

that it made us know the events that have happened during the Battle of
Mactan. It also gave us a summary of how it started and ended. It also made
us know the peoples involved in the battle; who won and who were killed. But
overall it made us understand more about the history between the Philippines
and Spain especially us Filipinos as this topic is always mentioned/discussed in
school or any history related events.