Spain Voyages to the Marianas

In 1521, the CHamoru people would become the first in the vast Pacific region to interact with Western explorers. These explorers would set off from the shores of Spain with the goal to find a new passageway to the East Indies. Along their voyage, the expedition would find itself on the verge of death in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, ultimately saved due to a fateful encounter with an island civilization that inhabited the archipelago known today as the Mariana Islands.

From the Desk of Guam’s Historian

In this new series, “From the Desk of Guam’s Historian,” we will be featuring reflections written by the current historian at the Department of Parks and Recreation Historic Resources Division, Anthony “Malia” Ramirez. This will be the first of three reflections leading up to the official commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation voyage in March of this year. In this article, Malia shares with us how she uses her knowledge in oral history and CHamoru language to provide a unique perspective of the historic encounter between the CHamorus and Spanish explorers.