FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD OF

MAGELLAN 
BY:
ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify the key persons in the First Voyage Around the World by Magellan.
2. Interpret the firsthand observations of Antonio Pigafetta in his Travelogue.
3. Create an analysis of Pigafetta’s travelogue.
4. Appreciate the examination of primary sources like the travelogue of Antonio Pigafetta
 ACTIVITY 1
HOW FAR HAVE YOU TRAVELED?

HAVE YOU MADE AN ACCOUNT OF YOUR TRAVEL?

WHAT HAVE YOU WRITTEN IN YOUR ACCOUNT? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ACCOUNT AND YOUR ACTUAL
EXPERIENCE?
(POST)
(10 MINUTES)
SHARE YOUR MOMENTS….
Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal,
circa 1480. As a boy, he studied mapmaking
and navigation. By his mid-20s, he was sailing
in large fleets and was engaged in combat. In
1519, with the support of Holy Roman
Emperor Charles V, Magellan set out to find a
better route to the Spice Islands. Apr 27, 2017
Place of birth: Portugal
Died: April 27, 1521
Pigafetta was born into a wealthy Vicenza family, and
studied navigation among other things. He served on
board the galleys of the Knights of Rhodes, and
accompanied the papal nuncio, Monsignor Chieregati,
to Spain. Later, he joined the Portuguese captain
Ferdinand Magellan and his Spanish crew on their
trip to the Maluku Islands. While in the Philippines
Magellan was killed, and Pigafetta was injured.
Nevertheless, he recovered and was among only 18 of
Magellan’s original crew who, having completed the
first circumnavigation of the world, returned to Spain
on board another vessel, the Victoria. Most
importantly, Magellan kept a journal of his voyage,
and this is a key source for information about
Magellan’s famous journey.
Examining the travelogue of Pigafetta leads to:
1. gaining of insights in the character of the Philippines during the
precolonial period.

2. learning of how the fresh eyes o the Europeans regard a deeply

unfamiliar terrain,
environment, people and culture.

3. familiarity on the dominant frame of mind in the age of exploration

which pervaded Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.

4. realization that primary sources used in the subsequent written

histories depart from certain perspective.
(Activity 2)
The First Voyage Around the World by
Magellan was published after Pigafetta
returned to Italy.
Note: reserve your comments about the following

First hand observations of Pigafetta in his

travelogue:
1. “The people have no arms but use sticks, which have a fish bone at the end.
They are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for the sake of what we
called these three islands the Ladrones Islands”.

The Ladrones Islands is presently known as the Marianas Islands. These

islands are located south-southeast of Japan, west-southwest of Hawaii,
north of New Guinea and east of Philippines. They reached
Zamal (Samar) where he recounted that nine men came to them with
joy and eagerness in seeing them. They welcomed them with food,
drinks and gifts. In turn, the natives gave them fish, palm wine, figs and
two cochos.
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
2. “This palm produces a fruit named cocho, which is large as
the head or thereabouts: its first husk is green, and two
fingers in thickness, in it they find certain threads with which
they make the cords for fastening their boats. Under this
husk, there is another very hard and thicker than that of a
walnut. They burn this second rind and make it a powder
which is useful to them. Under this rind there is a white
marrow of a finger’s thickness which they eat fresh with meat
and fish as we do bread and has the taste of an almond and if
anyone dried it he might make bread out of it.
 This is how Pigafetta described the palm tree that bears fruit called
cocho and wine in amazement and fascination. The description leads to
the realization that the men were very creative.
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
3. “The people were very familiar and friendly and are willingly
showed to us different islands and the names of these
islands”.

Humunu Island (Homonhon)-the place referred to as the

“Watering Place of Good Signs”. It is in here that they found
the first signs of gold.

Archipelago of St. Lazarus-the name given to the island of

Humunu and the nearby islands. (Activity 3: Research)
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
4. “We saw two balanghai (balangay) full of people from
Mazaua. The leader then sent his men to the ship of
Magellan”. They exchanged gifts.”
King offered-bar of gold, chest of ginger, food in chinaware
Magellan offered-robes in Turkish fashion, red cap, knives
and mirrors.
His Men in armor- Magellan boasted about to which the king
was fascinated about
Charts and Maps-Magellan shared with the king that helped
them found the islands.
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
5. “The king in that island is the most handsome of all the men
he saw. He was adorned with silk and gold accessories like a
golden dagger, which he carried with him in a wooden
polished sheath.”
Raja Culambu-the king of Zuluan and Calagan
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
6. “When the offertory of the mass came, the two kings went to
kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing and at the
elevation of the body of our Lord they were kneeling like us
and adored our Lord with joined hands.
Raja Culambu and Siagu-the two kings who attended the
mass.
cross, nail and crown-signs of his emperor that should be
planted in the places he would reach.
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
7. “Then he king said that he was content and as a greater sign
of affection he sent him a little of his blood from his right arm,
and wished he should do the like. Our people answered that
he would do it. Besides that, he said that all the captains who
came to his country had been accustomed to make a present to
him and he to them and therefore, they should ask their
captain if he would observe the custom. Our people said that
he would; but as the king wished to keep up the custom, let
him begin and make a present and then the captain would do
his duty.”
Blood compact – an ancient ritual in the Philippines intended
to seal a friendship or treaty.

The king of Cebu demanded tribute from Magellan but the

latter refused and said that he was the captain of the king
himself who was the emperor of a great empire and better to
just make friends with them..
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
8. “To that the king and all his people answered that thy would
obey the commands of the captain and do all that he told
them. The captain took the king by the hand, and they walked
about on the scaffolding and when he was baptized he said
that he would name him Don Charles (Carlos), as the emperor
sovereign was named and he named the prince Don Fernand
(Fernando) after the brother of the emperor and the king of
Mazavva, Jehan: to Moor he gave the name of Christopher,
and to the others each a name of his fancy ”
Burning of the idols and worshipping of the cross- the order
he gave the king and his people as a sign of being a good
Christian.

Christianity- the faith Magellan introduced to all the

inhabitants of the island.

Baptizing the sick man-the miracle accounted by Pigafetta for

the man was able to speak again after the baptism.
Note: reserve your comments about the following
First hand observations of Pigafetta in his
travelogue:
9. “When we reached land we found the islanders fifteen
hundred in number, drawn up in squadrons; they came down
upon us with terrible shouts, two squadrons attacking us on
the flanks and the third in front. The shots of our guns did a
little or no harm to the islanders and did not retire, drew
nearer to us throwing arrows, javelins, spears hardened in fire,
stones and even mud making us hard to defend ourselves.
Some of them cast lances pointed with iron at the captain-
general.”
 The King of Cebu offered help but Magellan refused. Instead
he instructed him just to stay in the balangay to watch them
fight.

Magellan died in the battle. The king offered the people of

Mactan gifts of any value and amount in exchange of
Magellan’s body but the chief refused.

Magellan’s body-momento of the victory of the people of

Mactan

Duarte Barbosa- new captain elected by Magellan’s men

Henry-the slave and interpreter of Magellan who betrayed the
latter and his men.

The king of Cebu and Henry conspired and killed the twenty-
four Spaniards.

Juan Serrano-was abandoned by his people in Cebu