Quotes About Navigation

In 1518, the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan

and, to his astonishment, the king replied that Magellan was free to do as he

the strait, he argued, they should sail back to Spain to assemble a better-equipped fleet.

Magellan led a fleet of five little ships and 258 sailors from a variety of nations

the largest city in Andalusia, in southwestern Spain. Ruy Faleiro, and possibly Francisco, joined him

European traders wishing to reach the Spice Islands previously had traveled east rather than west

And when Magellan

Magellan hoped that by going west, in the opposite direction, over water

Magellan believed that he could do what the Genoese navigator had claimed to do but had never actually accomplished:

Significantly, Serrão's letters placed the Spice Islands far to the east of their true position;

top of the pinnacle came the pilot, who plotted the ship's route; the master, who supervised the precious cargo;

reach the fabulous Indies by sailing westward across the ocean.

and finally the captain. Each of the top three officers had his own page (as Captain General, Magellan

Their land route back to Port Saint Julian presented seemingly overwhelming obstacles:

Magellan's expedition to the Spice Islands must not violate the treaty.

Magellan spoke excitedly of his intention to sail along the eastern coast of what is now called South America until the land ended

experienced local pilots, familiar with the seas and tides, were valuable to a visitor like Drake.

Magellan spoke excitedly of his intention to sail along the eastern coast of what is now called South America until the land ended and he would be able to turn west toward the Spice Islands;

they rarely ate with the crew. To most of the men aboard the fleet, even the flagship, Trinidad, Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan located a rumored passage near the southern tip of South America.

At sea, days were divided into six four-hour shifts, called watches.

Magellan brought with him many of Portugal's most precious and sensitive secrets: information about secret expeditions

he would be able to turn west toward the Spice Islands;

By this time, he had lost two ships. The three remaining vessels ventured into the passage without benefit of maps.