Historical Facts: Ferdinand Magellan's Expedition
This was based on Reader's Digest: The Story of the Filipino People (Part 3) by Jose S. Arcilla. Magellan's Early Expeditions and the Way to Asia There was a man named Ferdinand Magellan. He was born in Portugal to the lower part of the nobility. In 1511, Magellan explored India, Malacca, and Indonesia. Now, here's the problem. To go to Asia, he would have to go around Africa. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer working for Spain, explored the Americas. To the Europeans, it was a new continent. Since most explorers knew the world is round, they knew Asia would be on the other side. From Portugal to Spain One time, Magellan was fighting the Moors in North Africa. He won, and asked for a raise from King Manuel of Portugal. But the king declined. Now, to understand this next part, you have to know the rivalry between Spain and Portugal over colonization. Sp...