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First Voyage Around the World

1. Author’s Background  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 voyage around the
world.

2. Historical background of the On 10 August 1519, five ships departed

document from Seville for what was to become the
first circumnavigation of the globe. Linked
by fame to the name of its captain,
Magellan, much of the expedition is known
through the travelogue of one of the few
crew members who returned to Spain,
Antonio Pigafetta. A narrative and
cartographic record of the journey

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(including 23 hand-drawn watercolour

charts) from Patagonia to Indonesia, from
the Philippines to the Cape of Good Hope,
Pigafetta's The First Voyage around the
World is a classic of discovery and
exploration literature.

3. Content Analysis: Understanding Socio-cultural Significance

the historical information The descriptions of the natives reflect the
early lives of the Visayan ancestors.

A. Identify and describe the

customs and traditions Political Significance
mentioned in the document that
The journal shows that even before the
have:
pre-colonial Philippines had its own
1. Socio-cultural significance political system.
2. Political significance

3. Economic significance Economic Significance

They had the barter system wherein they

exchange their good for something that
they want or need.
B. Identify and describe the Dates
mentioned:  March 16, 1521 – arrival at the island
a. Dates of Samar

b. Places  March 18 – encounter with the

c. Personalities townsfolk

 March 22 – receiving gifts from the

townsfolk

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 March 25 – approaching the four small

islands namely; Cenalo, Hiunanghan,
Ibusson, and Abrien

 March 28 – anchored in the island of

Zamatra (Sumatra)

 March 29 – conversation between the

captain general and the King of
Zamatra

 March 31 – the first mass took place

 April 7 – entered the port of Zubu

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

 Mazaua – where they remained for

seven days

 Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and

Gatighan – the five islands they

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passed through

 Gatighan – bats were as large as

eagles

 Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon – islands

where they awaited for the king of
Mazaua

Personalities

 Captain-General – Ferdinand
Magellan

 Raia Colambu & Raia Siaui – kings

that took part in the mass

4. Contextual Analysis: He wanted to explore and learn about the

What are the factors that could have
influenced Antonio Pigafetta in the
writing of the document? Explain.
5. What are the relevance /
contribution of the document in
Philippine history?
world in which he heard about Magellan’s
expedition where he asked and obtained
the permission to join the voyage. The
document was his journal which became
basis for his travelogue.
The document is one of the early proofs of
life in the Visayas region. Pigafetta’s
description on how the natives were
dressed and about their appearances
shows the early lives of the Visayan
ancestors and how they lived in the islands
in peace.

6. What are the author’s main Magellan and his crew were the people
arguments? who converted some of the natives to

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Christianity. They were also responsible

for the first mass in the Philippine Islands.

7. Your own overall observation and His travelogue is one of the most important
insights on the primary source primary sources in the study of pre-
colonial Philippines.

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