Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Magellan–Elcano circumnavigation, taking place between 1519 and 1522, was the first recorded journey around the world. This itinerary describes their route, from Spain to South America, across the southern Pacific Ocean to Oceania, Southeast Asia, across the Indian Ocean to Africa, and along Africa's west coast back up to Spain.
Of the five ships and 270 men embarking on the journey, only one ship with 18 men aboard finished the trip; some other men straggled back later, but none of the ships. One historian has claimed that making this journey with 16th century technology was riskier than landing on the moon with 20th century technology.
UnderstandThere had been trade between Asia and the Mediterranean region for centuries via the Silk Road, and around 1300 Marco Polo returned from a journey to the east and wrote of the riches there.
PrepareIf you want to make the trip as similar to Magellan's as possible, using a boat is the way to go; a sailboat does not require fuel and would be more like the original voyage than a powerboat.
Get inThe expedition started and ended in Seville, a city that is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Guadalquivir river.
Go10 August 1519 — Seville. The expedition set off from Seville, at the time the Spanish center of trade with the New World, sailing down the Guadalquivir River. It took a few days downstream to Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
Stay safeThis itinerary takes you through several parts of the world. Some countries on the trip have high crime rates (Brazil, South Africa), and severe weather and tropical diseases are a risk in many places.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Magellan-Elcano circumnavigation" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons