The story of the first circumnavigation of the globe is one of the most fascinating of the Age of Discovery. The voyage commanded by Ferdinand Magellan left Spain in 1519 with the objective of finding a route to the Spice Islands in the East Indies. Although Magellan died during the expedition, his second in command, Juan Sebastian Elcano, managed to complete the round-the-world voyage in 1522. But how did he do it?
The expedition left Spain in September 1519 with five ships and some 260 men. After crossing the Atlantic and reaching the coast of Brazil, the expedition headed south in search of a passage to the Pacific. After several months of sailing, the expedition reached a strait that now bears the name Magellan. Although the strait was dangerous and difficult to navigate, the expedition managed to pass through it and reach the Pacific.
Once in the Pacific, the expedition had to face strong storms, lack of food and water and the illness of the crew. Despite these obstacles, the expedition managed to reach the Philippines, where Magellan died in a battle with the natives. After Magellan's death, Elcano took command of the expedition and decided to continue to the Spice Islands.
The expedition finally reached the Spice Islands and loaded the ships with spices for the return voyage to Spain. However, the return voyage was not easy. The ships had to face storms, lack of food and water, and crew sickness. In addition, the ships had to deal with the threat of Portuguese pirates, who tried to steal the expedition's spices.
Finally, after three years of sailing, the expedition reached Spain in September 1522. Of the five ships that departed from Spain, only one, the Nao Victoria, managed to complete the round-the-world voyage, commanded by Elcano.
So, how did Elcano manage to complete the round-the-world voyage?
In short, thanks to his skill as a navigator and his determination to complete the mission he was given. Despite the obstacles he faced, Elcano never gave up and pressed on to complete the circumnavigation of the globe. His feat is a testament to the courage and determination of the explorers of the Age of Discovery and a milestone in the history of navigation and exploration.