How did Magellan fail?

The first of these failed revolts was easily unraveled, but the second proved more elaborate. Worried that Magellan's obsession with finding passage to the Pacific was going to doom the expedition, in April 1520 three of his five ships turned against him. read more

While in the service of Spain, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan led the first European voyage of discovery to circumnavigate (travel around) the globe. His voyage provided clear proof that the Earth is round. Early life and travels. Ferdinand Magellan was born in Oporto, Portugal, in 1480. read more

Historians have long admired the achievements of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella, Queen of Castile (1474-1504) and Ferdinand, King of Aragon (1479-1516) and recent biographers of Isabella notably Peggy Liss (1992) have been equally fulsome in the praises. read more

Magellan, unfortunately, did not live to see the completion of the trip. He died of old age only six months earlier, but his accomplishment still stands today as a testament to human willpower and the spirit of discovery. read more