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The Unplanned Voyage Around the World
Fernand de Magellan left Seville in August 1519 with five ships and 237 men. His goal: to find a westward route to the Spice Islands, not to sail around the world.
Three years later, in September 1522, only one ship, the Victoria, returned to port. On board were 18 survivors. Magellan wasn’t among them—he died in April 1521 in the Philippines, killed in a battle with locals.
The first true circumnavigation was completed by his second-in-command, Juan Sebastián Elcano, and his crew. They brought back 26 tons of spices, enough to cover the expedition’s costs and even turn a profit.
Source: futura-sciences.com
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