Document Analysis: First Voyage Around the

World
by Antonio Pigafetta

GEC-Readings in Philippine History

Prepared by
Stacy Mei B. Duran

October 6, 2023
Document Analysis: First Voyage Around the World by Antonio Pigafetta

Antonio Lombardo, also known as Francisco Antonio Pigafetta, was a pivotal figure in
one of the most the world's most amazing exploration excursions. He was a venetian
explorer and Italian academic born in Vicenza in 1942. Pigafetta kept a meticulous
journal, the original of which has been lost. Although there are four manuscript versions
that were translated in Pigafetta's diary between 1522 and 1525. Much of what is known
about Magellan and Elcano's expedition is based on the surviving journal of Pigafetta.
Antonio Pigafetta accompanied Magellan and Juan Sebastian Elcano on the victorious
Moluccas campaign, which began in August 1519 and ended in September
1522.Regardless of its proclivity for incorporating tremendous precision, Pigafetta's
record remains the single most important source of circumnavigation travel. He made
notes every day. Pigafetta's travelogue is one of the most important resource for studying
pre-colonial Philippines. Antonio Pigafetta had definitely witnessed everything that had
occurred, which gave him authority over the matter. With his life, he made a significant
contribution to the expedition. He is also recognized as a seafarer and geographer, as well
as Magellan's helper, which made him important to the expedition. Pigafetta's 1525
travelogue was based on the "First Voyage Around the World" logbook. According to
researcher Theodore Cachey Junior, the travelogue has gained international acclaim. This
is the type of document information that students, particularly those studying history at
the moment, might greatly benefit from, as well as experts conducting historical analysis.
The manuscript is so thorough that it includes depictions of nations, peoples,
commodities, and even the languages spoken during their tour.

The book also narrated his journey in the Philippines and this elated the hearts of the
Filipinos for the book described how hospitable and friendly the people were from the
islands that they visited. It was said that in the first island they arrived, the isle of Zamal,
the principal one amongst the men who sought them two days (March 18, 1521) after
their arrival on the said isle welcomed them joyously (Paragraph 5). Antonio’s crew were
tourists in the island and the people of Samal could’ve just killed them to ensure the
safety of their territory, but they didn’t. This century was also the century where lots of
foreigners invades lands and them not being hostile towards Antonio’s crew is a real
manifestation of how kind-hearted these people are.

Furthermore, Antonio talked about the fruits from the island (Paragraph 7).This is
certainly shared knowledge from one of the individuals on the island, and it can be
concluded that the people trusted them enough to share this knowledge with them. There
were also positive interactions with neighboring islands, demonstrating that the Filipinos
of the 16th century were warm-hearted and welcoming. Each island has its own culture
that they shared with the crew, with each having its own cosmology, moral code, and
style of connection.

“From the day when we left this bay of San Lucar until our return thither, we reckoned
that we had run more than fourteen thousand four hundred and sixty leagues, and we had
completed going round the earth from East to West.” (Page 25, Paragraph 23) Antonio
Pigafetta announced he had completed his first expedition around the globe. On
September 1522, three years and a month since the voyage began, he made it all over the
world. With only one ship from the original five, the Victoria docked back in Seville, and
only 18 men from the original 270 survived the voyage. Among them was the author of
the First Voyage around the World, Antonio Pigafetta, a scholar who has kept a detailed
expedition journal.

Overall, Pigafetta's book, First Voyage Around the World, is regarded as the most
important discovery and exploration issue, particularly in the study of the Philippine pre-
colonial period. The book discussed their tour through the Philippines' islands and the
richness of each culture they visited. The book provided the world with an insight into
how Filipinos treated tourists at the time, and it would be remembered in perpetuity.
References
https://www.studocu.com/ph/u/17478645?sid=314508291696557766
Activity 2.1 Document Analysis - DOCUMENT ANALYSIS: FIRST VOYAGE AROUND
THE WORLD BY ANTONIO - Studocu