THROUGH THE PORTHOLE Learn more about Tall Ship cruising... The Circumnavigation that proved the World was Round
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The Circumnavigation that proved the world was round Many ancient cultures throughout history considered
Islands from the east.
the world to be flat, with depictions including a floating in the ocean. Although it was not widely accepted until
He studied recent charts with the help of cosmographer,
the 16th century, the Greek philosopher, Pythagoras,
Rui Faleiro, in an attempt to determine a gateway from
was thought to be the first to suggest the world was
the Atlantic to Pacific which would avoid damaging
round in the 6th century BC.
relations with Spain. The passage he planned on sailing would take him through the southern tip of South
In 1494, at a time where many educated circles still
America and is known to this day as the Strait of
remained in doubt over the curvature of the earth, the
Magellan. In 1517, Magellan, along with his partner, Rui
Treaty of Tordesillas was signed by Pope Alexander VI.
Faleiro, made successful contact with Juan de Aranda of
This divided the world in half, with the Americas and
Spain. With his support, they presented their project to
surrounding islands being promised to the Kingdom
the Spanish King, Charles I (also known as Charles V,
of Spain and sovereignty of the eastern hemisphere
Holy Roman Emperor).
handed to the Portuguese. The Spanish crown accepted and funded the project Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese sailor, had gained
based on their terms and conditions. King Manuel I of
a name amongst the people as a successful sailor
Portugal was furious and ordered a naval detachment
and explorer for his role in the conquest of Malacca
to pursue Magellan, but he managed to evade them.
(Indonesia). He returned to Portugal in 1512 but ended
A fleet of five ships was sent on the expedition, which
up falling out of favour with the Portuguese monarchy
departed Spain in 1519 on a journey that later became
for taking leave without permission. King Manuel I
an attempt to complete a circumnavigation of the globe.
of Portugal repeatedly refused Ferdinand Magellan’s persistent requests to lead an expedition to the Spice
It is worth noting that Magellan was Christian
evangelist, which could well have been the cause of
Although the circumnavigation alone did not entirely
his death. After successfully navigating the Strait of
prove the earth was spherical (it could have been
Magellan and sailing across the Pacific Ocean, he
cylindrical or irregularly globular), this journey
reached the Philippines, where he remained adamant
provided a concrete example of the possibility of being
on converting all those that he met to Christianity.
able to sail around the planet. It would be 58 years
King Lapu Lapu of the Philippines, however, refused to
until another attempt at a circumnavigation would be
convert, so Magellan burnt his village on the island of
completed. This took place in 1577; when the well-
Mactan. The king continued to refuse and an ensuing
known English navigator, Sir Francis Drake, became
battle saw Magellan struck by a spear and stabbed
the first to survive a complete circumnavigation. He
multiple times. To this day, the Philippines regard
returned to England on board the Golden Hind in 1580.
Magellan as a tyrant, rather than a hero and the Battle of Mactan is re-enacted every year.
Despite many technological advances being made in the way we move around the world, cruising remains a
Lesser known Basque mariner, Juan Sebastian Elcano,
popular way to travel. Today, Star Clippers can provide
commanded the return voyage on board the only ship
an opportunity to revisit a bygone era of traditional
that would survive the circumnavigation. He and 18
sailing, whilst taking you to blissful destinations in the
survivors of the original crew of 260 arrived in Seville
Eastern and Western Mediterranean, Caribbean, Cuba
on September 6, 1522. Upon arrival, Elcano was
and Far East Asia.
presented with a coat of arms by Charles I of Spain. It featured the motto: “Primus circumdedisti me”, which is Latin for “You went around me first”.
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