CONTILLO, ASHERAH JAM A.

BS-PSYCHOLOGY 1

1. Who is Antonio Pigafetta? What is his role in the Magellan-Elcano expedition? (20
pts)
- He was an Italian scholar and explorer from the Republic of Venice (Italy). In his youth
he studied astronomy, geography and cartography. He traveled with the Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew by order of the King Charles I of Spain on
their voyage to the Indies for spices. On March 17, 1521, Antonio Pigafetta, most likely in
his 20s, arrived in the Philippines as part of Magellan's crew. He was the group's
geographer and scribe, recording not only the natives' names and vocabulary, but also
their food, clothing, customs, and rituals. Antonio Pigafetta was also one of the 18 men
who returned to Spain in 1522 out of approximately 250 who set out three years earlier.
Pigafetta's journal is the source of what we know about Magellan's voyage and him being
the author of it.

2. According to Pigafetta, how did the locals of the island welcome Magellan and his
crew? (20 pts)
- According to Pigafetta, Magellan and his crew were pleasantly welcomed on the islands
of Raia Colambu and Raia Siaui, as well as the island of Zubu. Until then, one of
Mactan's village chiefs, Lapu-lapu, refused to comply and follow the King of Spain,
angering Magellan and leading to a war. Honestly speaking, Magellan's arrogance and
overconfidence in medieval arms were the factors that led to his death. Magellan was a
great navigator and explorer, but he was not a battle tactician.

3. How are the islander's way of life, cultural practices, and religious beliefs described?
What does Pigafetta's account tell us about the conditions of the Visayan Islands in the
16th century? (40 pts)
- The cultural practices, religious beliefs, and the way of life of the islanders were very
primitive compared to that of the Spaniards. The islander’s worshiped idols made of
wood and their main source of food were fish, coconuts and rice. Coconuts were also
utilized to create various ingredients food and beverages such as wine, bread, milk and
vinegar. In terms of tools, they utilized the coconut's filaments for binding their boats.
In terms of clothing, the natives were mostly using leaves and cloth as a form of
covering. In terms of weaponry, the native's arsenal were mostly posion darts and
spears. Lapu-lapu was otable in terms of wielding a scimitar like weapon. Pigafetta's
accounts describe a luscious island paradise filled with creatures and fauna unknown to
the Spaniards at the time.
4. Based on Pigafetta's account, how did the battle of Mactan start? (20 pts)
- It all began when Magellan began gradually converting a large number of islanders to
Christianity. Magellan and his crew burned down Bulaia, a village on the island of
Mactan that refused to convert to Christianity, during this process. On April 26th, one of
the chiefs of Mattan's village, Zula, sent two of his sons to present two goats to Magellan
alone, except the rest that had been promised. Due to the reluctance of the other ruler,
Lapu-lapu, to follow the king of Spagnia in acknowledging the Christian King as their
sovereign, Zula said he was unable to submit the rest. At midnight, Magellan, along with
three boatloads of men, the Christian king, the prince, the chief's men and around
twenty to thirty balanghais made their way to Mactan. Before the battle itself, Magellan
sent the natives a message through the Moro, stating that he did not wish to fight them
but will do so if they refused to recognize the Christian king as their sovereign. They
replied with a message, brandishing their military might, and a favour to attack them
only in the morning the next day so they might be able to gather their men. Magellan
anticipated this as a ruse and waited until morning to attack. When came, Magellan and
his company made their way to the island. With the ear splitting cries of the natives
approaching Magellan and his men, the Battle of Mactan commenced.