“First Voyage Around the World”

By: Antonio Pigafetta

Primary Source

The purpose is aim to learn more the primary source, the importance of the source,
the author’s background, the context of the document, and its contribution to
understanding Philippine history.

Importance of the source

The starting of the 16th century, the navigation route deputed by Magellan and his
sailors during the First Circumnavigation around the World has geographical and
symbolically connected different cultures and civilizations, providing exchanges and
achievements in commerce, scientific knowledge and cultural, artistic and religious
practices. It may be said that the first globalization of our world started in that
moment. Also, for the first time people became aware of the multicultural fact,
because multiculturalism was empirically shown as the diversity of people and
cultures that made contact with each other, which could be seen by intuition and
audacity of an almost unnamed person who was involved in the Magellan trip, the
Italian Antonio Pigafetta, the same who left a diary-like written record of the voyage,
where he reported day by day befallen events. In sum, Magellan Route represents
the confirmation of the Earth’s roundness, is at the origins of the concept of
globalism and the universality of knowledge. Thanks to the discovery of the Strait of
Magellan and the crossing of the Pacific Ocean, new models of expansion,
commercial and economic were well known, involving countries from all continents.
This model survives today and is called globalization. The global expansion of
scientific and technological knowledge also took place as never before. Both facts
are widely theorized and well described by Adam Smith among many others.
Geographical locations comprehended in the Route are situated in the following
countries: Uruguay, Argentina, Brasil, Cabo Verde, Chile, Indonesia, Philipines
Portugal, and Spain. Most of the places are very well-known and documented;
nevertheless, due to the complexity and vastness of the Magellan Route, more
accuracy is required for others. Thus, thorough and in depth research work is
needed in all the countries involved, so that, the different territorial places and
regional areas that are part of the Route may be scientifically recognized and
documented.

The study and record of all the route sites will be accomplished among all the
participant countries, based on the very exhaustive available documentation
(chronicles, maps, bibliography, etc.), as well as on the monumental remains and
stories that are part of the rich historical and heritage reminiscence preserved in the
different territories along the itinerary.

The Author’s Background

Antonio Pigafetta was born around 1970 in the town of Vicenza, Venice, Italy. His
parents are Giovanni Pigafetta and Angela Zoga and he is the eldest among his
siblings. He studied astronomy, geography, and cartography, and during his
younger years, he worked in the ships. He was described as a well-educated young
man possessing an avid curiosity about the world around him. He heard about the
news of the voyage undertaken by Ferdinand Magellan. Served on board the ships
of the Knights of Rhodes at the beginning of the 16 th century. Had an aunt,
Elisabetta, who married Valerio Chiericati. Joined the Magallanes-Elcano famous
expedition to the Mollucas begun in August 1519 and finished September 1522.
Had a hand-written account of the expedition entitled “The First Voyage Around the
World”.
The Context of the Document

The First Voyage Around The World by Antonio Pigafetta was written on board one
of the five ships that was first to circumnavigate the world during an expedition that
was lead by the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan and after his death
during the voyage, by Juan Sebastian Elcano. The expedition started in 1519 and
ended in Spain in 1522.

Its Contribution to Understanding Philippine History

Elaborated the lifestyle back then and it described what the local islanders wore,
what they ate, how they communicated, and how they lived. Pigafetta’s journal is
the only known document about Lapu-lapu’s life. Considered the best source today
of the customs and usages of the Filipinos in the early 16 th century due to the daily
notes Pigafetta took and details about the expedition that he wore about. Contains
the first vocabulary of Visayan words ever penned by a European. Pigafetta’s
journal is also a vital piece not only of Philippine history, but also of World history.
He narrated the events that transpired in a way that gives the readers of his journal
a clear picture of what it was like to be part of the voyage around the world.

Submitted by: Christian Mae T. Fernandez ES-2

Instructor: Miss Alona Mae Albite
History 11