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The First Voyage Around the World

1519-1522

Presentors: Raymundo S. Canizares

Ma. Cleta A. Santos

Northwest Samar State University

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The Book and Its Context

Europe had no idea what had befallen Magellan and his men after they set sail in 1519. It was up to Pigafetta to tell the story, which his journal was more than capable of doing. He drew up a copy of his notes (polished up, complete with illustrations of various islands they had encountered) and had them published in a French version in 1523. 

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The Book and Its Context continued..�

Pigafetta, with an easy manner and an eye for the unusual, produced a very readable account of the first successful circumnavigation and gave readers a glimpse into the manners and customs of the native people encountered, as well as information on local flora and fauna. He also compiled glossaries of native words, giving their European equivalent. The Relation of the Voyage is addressed to Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam and this was presented to King Charles V

However, it was not through Pigafetta's writings that Europeans first learned of the circumnavigation of the globe. Rather, it was through an account written by a Flanders-based writer Maximilianus Transylvanus, which was published in 1523. Transylvanus had been instructed to interview some of the survivors of the voyage when Magellan's surviving ship Victoria returned to Spain in September 1522 under the command of Juan Sebastian Elcano.

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About the Author

  • Born: circa 1491 to a Patrician family in Vicenza, Italy
  • At a young age, Antonio already wanted to travel, to see “the very great and awful things of the ocean.”
  • He served as secretary to the Papal Ambassador to the Court of King Charles I, in Valladolid, Spain
  • There he learned that King Charles I was sponsoring an expedition, backed by Germany’s Frugger family of bankers, to reach the East Indies by sailing west, and will be commanded by Ferdinand Magellan.

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About the Author continued…

  • With the letters of recommendation from the King, young Antonio went to Seville and signed on as the only non-seaman, civilian tourist/observer.
  • He served the captain, i.e. Magellan, as log-keeper and amanuensis - an artistic assistant.
  • Due to Magellan’s demise, Pigafetta, wounded, arrived back in Spain with a load of cloves valuable enough to more than pay for the entire expedition.
  • Back in Italy, he wrote more accounts of the trip.
  • He entered the monastic Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem → Knights of Rhodes → Knights of Malta
  • He took his vows in 1530 with the Grand Master, Philippe de Villers l’Ile-Adam as his new client
  • He died in 1536 defending Malta against the attacking Turks

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About the Author continued…

Casa Pigafetta, his palace in Vicenza.

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About the Author continued…

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The Magellan–Elcano Circumnavigation

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  • The Magellan–Elcano circumnavigation was the first voyage around the world in human history. These men were the first to circumnavigate the globe in a single expedition.
  • It was a Spanish expedition that sailed from Seville in 1519 under the command of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese, in search of a maritime path from Spain around the Americas to East Asia across the Pacific Ocean.
  • Following Magellan's death in Mactan (Philippines) in 1521, Juan Sebastián Elcano took command of the ship Victoria, sailing from Borneo, the Spice Islands and back to Spain across the Indian Ocean, round the Cape of Good Hope and north along the west coast of Africa. They arrived in Spain three years after they left, in 1522.

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The Spanish fleet, the Armada de Molucca, that left Spain on 20 September 1519 consisted of five ships with 270 men: 

  1. Trinidad under Magellan, Captain General; 
  2. San Antonio under Juan de Cartagena; 
  3. Concepcion under Gaspar de Quesada; 
  4. Santiago under João Serrão; and Victoria under Luiz Mendoza.
  5. the Victoria, under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano and a crew of 18 men, which returned to Spain on 6 September 1522. The circumnavigation was completed by one ship.

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Ferdinand Magellan

  • Ferdinand Magellan was born in a noble family at Portugal in 1480.
  • After serving as a court page for two years, he decided to be an explorer.
  • In March 1505 at the age of 25, Magellan enlisted in the fleet of 22 ships sent to host D. Francisco de Almeida as the first viceroy of Portuguese India.
  • He participated in several battles, including the battle of Cannanore in 1506, where he was wounded. In 1509 he fought in the battle of Diu. He later sailed under Diego Lopes de Sequeira in the first Portuguese embassy to Malacca, with Francisco Serrão, his friend and possibly cousin.[
  • 1512, he was stationed in Morocco and made plans to find a western shortcut to the Spice Islands

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Ferdinand Magellan continued…

  • Unfortunately, King Emmanuel of Portugal refused to finance his journey which prompted him to renounce his Portuguese citizenship and offer his services to King Charles I of Spain
  • The voyage started with around 240 men in five ships
  • Visited Philippines named it (Archipelago of St. Lazarus)

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Ferdinand Magellan continued…

  • The Pacific Ocean proved to be one of the toughest tests that they would face
  • Ship crew suffered from extreme hunger and were forced to feed on rats, sawdust, leather and maggots (Around 20 men died)
  • When they finally arrived in the Philippine Islands, they started converting natives to Christianity
  • Mactan local chief Lapu-lapu and his men were upset when Magellan insisted that they convert - On April 27, 1521, Magellan was killed when he got struck by a poisoned arrow

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Background of the Period

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Disintegration of Land Trade Route (Silk-Route)

The disintegration of the Silk Road following the reign of the Mongols stimulated Europeans to reach the prosperous Chinese empire via a sea route. Tremendous profits were to be obtained by anyone who could achieve a direct trade connection with Asia. The ocean route from Europe to the East was initially discovered by the expeditions of Bartolomeu Dias (1488) and Vasco da Gama (1497-1499), via the Atlantic and Indian oceans. In 1500, an armada led by Pedro Álvares Cabral also linked for the first time on this new route the New World (South America) and Asia.

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Pre-19c European Imperialism

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Industrial

Revolution

Source

For Raw

Materials

Markets

for�Finished�Goods

European�Nationalism,

Boost

Prestige

Missionary�Activity

Military�& Naval�Bases

European

Motives

For Imperialism

Places to�Dump�Unwanted/�Excess Popul.

Soc. & Eco.�Opportunities

Humanitarian�Reasons

European�Racism

“White�Man’s�Burden”

Social�Darwinism

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Treaty of Tordissellas

  • A division of the lands beyond Europe between Portugal and the Crown of Castille.
  • Signed on June 7, 1494.
  • Takes the boundary line given in Inter caetera , but moves it 270 leagues west.
  • Inter caetera: A papal bull issued by Pope Alexander IV on May 4, 1493.
  • This bull divides the world between the Crown of Castile and Portugal, drawing an imaginary line 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands.
  • Portugal can take unclaimed territories east of the line and Spain can take territories west of the line.

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Spices

Before the 15th Century spices were an essential ancient piece for commerce. It was used for giving flavor to food as well as making perfume, embalming the dead, preserving meat and creating salves for traditional medicine. The spices were important to the Europeans because refrigeration was unheard of in those days and the only means of preservation was the use of spices which it gives flavor to the food.

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The Galleon Ship

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  • Galleons were large, multi-decked sailing ships used as armed cargo carriers primarily by European states during the age of sail from the 16th to 18th centuries and were the principal fleet units drafted for use as warships until the Anglo-Dutch wars of the mid-1600s. Galleons generally carried three or more masts with alateen fore-and-aft rig on the rear masts, were carvel built with a prominent squared off raised stern, and used square-rigged sail plans on their fore-mast and main-masts.
  • Such ships were the mainstay of maritime commerce into the early 19th century, and were often drafted into use as auxiliary naval war vessels—indeed, were the mainstay of contending fleets through most of the 150 years of the Age of Exploration — before the Anglo-Dutch wars began purpose-built ship-rigged warships that thereafter dominated war at sea during the remainder of the Age of Sail.

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New Navigational Tools

Came from the Italian adjective portolano which is related to ports or harbours. It is used as navigational maps based from compass and direction which estimates distances observed by pilots at sea.

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Navigational tools continued…

Magnetic Compass and Compass Rose:

  • The magnetic compass was a compass that had a magnetized needle supporting a magnetic card. This compass showed from four to eight directions. This innovation helped the Age of Exploration flourish because it showed explorers what direction they were headed. So basically it helped explorers reach their destination. The compass rose also told direction. 

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Navigational tools continued…

Astrolabe:

  • The Astrolabe is an angle and altitude measuring tool. The Astrolabe was first used for astronomy and astrology. It could have been invented by Hipparchus(Greek astronomer and mathematician). It was later used by sailors. The first use at sea was recorded to be in 1481. It was used on a voyage down the African coast by Portuguese explorers. So this tool helped sailors measure the angle of the sun which could then be converted to find latitude. This tool was more accurate at land then at sea.

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Navigational tools continued…

Used to determine angles, vessels latitude, or the top and bottom angle of an object.

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New Weaponry

cannon (plural: cannon or cannons) is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellants to launch a projectile, which may or may not be explosive. Cannon also transformed naval warfare in the early modern period, as European navies took advantage of their firepower. As rifling became commonplace, the accuracy and destructive power of cannon was significantly increased, and they became deadlier than ever, both to infantry who belatedly had to adopt different tactics, and to ships, which had to be armoured.

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Trade Winds

  • The trade winds are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics, within the lower portion of the Earth's atmosphere, in the lower section of the troposphere near the Earth's equator. Trade winds have been used by captains of sailing ships to cross the world's oceans for centuries, and enabled European empire expansion into the Americas and trade routes to become established across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

At first encounter, they thought the people of Ladrone islands:

  • “They are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and for the sake of that we called these three islands the Ladrone Islands.”
  • ○ Lived according to their own will for they have no seignior.

○ Had no religion

○ Thought that there were no other people in the world but themselves, based on the signs which they have made.

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March 16, 1521 (dawn of Saturday)

  • the explorers arrived at Zamal (Samar Island)

Monday, the 18th of March

  • after dinner, we saw a boat come towards us with nine men in it: upon which the captain-general ordered that no one should move or speak without his permission. When these people had come into this island towards us, immediately the principal one amongst them went towards the captain-general with demonstrations of being very joyous at our arrival.
  • The captain seeing that these people were reasonable, ordered food and drink to be given them, and he gave them some red caps, looking glasses, combs, bells, ivory, and other things.
  • When these people saw the politeness of the captain, they presented some fish, and a vessel of palm wine, which they call in their language Uraca; figs more than a foot long, and others smaller and of a better savour, and two cochos.”

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

“To explain the kind of fruits above-named it must be known that the one which they call cochi (coconut), is the fruit which the palm trees bear. And as we have bread, wine, oil, and vinegar, proceeding from different kinds, so these people have those things proceeding from these palm trees only.”

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

“These people became very familiar and friendly with us, and explained many things to us in their language, and told us the names of some islands which we saw with our eyes before us. *The island where they dwelt is called Zuluam, and it is not large.*”

“The island we were at was named Humunu (Homonhon Island); nevertheless because we found there two springs of very fresh water we named it the Watering Place of good signs (Acquada da li buoni Segnialli), and because we found here the first signs of gold. ”

“Magellan named the islands, San Lazaro for it was Sunday of St. Lazurus”

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

March 22, 1521

  • The natives (Filipinos) gave the remaining gifts they promised to Magellan.

WAY OF LIFE OF THE ISLANDERS

● Seignior

○ Painted (Tattooed)

○ Handkerchiefs about their heads

○ Earring on both ears

○ Gold armlet on both wrists

● Caphri. They call the natives caphri, or heathen.

○ Naked with Cloth woven from bark of tree to cover

their private parts

○ Anoint themselves with coconut and with beneseed oil as

protection against sun and wind

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

“They are great drinkers.”

“The women are dressed in tree cloth from their waists downwards; their hair is black, and reaches down to the ground; they wear certain gold rings in their ears.”

“These people chew most of their time a fruit which they call areca,… and after they have chewed it for a long time they spit it out, from which afterwards they have their mouths very red. They find themselves the better from the use of this fruit because it refreshes them much, for this country is very hot, so that they could not live without it.”

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

March 28, 1521

  • They saw a bonfire on an island (Limasawa) and anchored near it.
  • A boloto (baroto) with 8 men came near the flagship.
  • An interpreter under Magellan spoke to them.
  • Later, two balanghais approached them with their king.
  • Magellan gave gifts to the men who entered his ship while he rejected the gifts of the king.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

March 29, 1521

  • Magellan sent his slave Enrique (interpreter) to ask the king if he had any food to have it carried to the ships and they would come to the island as friends and not as enemies.
  • The king visited Magellan's ship and had an exchange of gifts.
  • Magellan asked to be casi casi or brothers with the king.
  • Magellan also showed his military strength to impress the king.
  • All of them had a feast and there was exchange of signs of friendships and ceremonies.
  • Introduced two kings: Raja Siaui of Limasawa and Raja Colambu of Butuan.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) [April 1, 1521 Local time]

  • Pedro Valderrama, a priest, was sent by Magellan to start the first Mass in Philippine history.
  • Erected a cross on the summit of the highest mountain
  • Magellan asked the king about his enemies
  • It was also stated that the three best places to get food would be in Ceylon, Zubu and Calahann (Leyte, Cebu, Caraga)
  • After the erection of the cross: Pater Noster and Ave Maria repeatedly

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

March 31, 1521 (Easter Sunday) [April 1, 1521 Local time]

  • Start of barter trades
  • Natives: A porringer full of rice, 8 or 10 figs. Asking in exchange: A Knife (worthy 3 catrini )

○ Natives Refused: 1 ducat

○ Natives Refused: a doppione (2 ducats )

○ Accepted: a Knife

  • When the natives offered a pointed crown of massive gold (the size of a colona ) for a 6 strings of glass beads, the Spaniards refused the offer.
  • The natives should learn at the very beginning that the Spaniards prized their merchandise more than the natives’ gold.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

  • Asked where is the best port to replenish their food, the king mentioned the three islands, namely (Ceylon, Zubu, and Calaghan) [Leyte, Cebu, and Caraga]

○ got the information that Zubu was the largest and had the most trade

○ Asked for guides on how to get to Zubu

    • Remained in the island of Mazaua for the duration of seven days
  • Set sail to northwest, passing five islands (Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and Gatighan) [In order as mentioned: Pigafetta assumed as south of Leyte, Bohol, Canigao Island, north of Leyte, not identified]

○ Since the king of Mazaua can’t follow with the ship’s speed, they waited for them near Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon [Camotes West of Leyte, namely Poro, Pasijan, and Panson]

  • Overwhelmed with bats as big as eagles [Tabon]

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

April 7, 1521

  • They entered the port of Zubu (Cebu) and fired mortars as sign of peace and friendship; honoring the king of the village.
  • Magellan sent an ambassador and the interpreter.
  • The king, Rajah Humabon said that all ships were required to pay tribute.
  • There was an exchange of warnings between the two parties.
  • Magellan made known their intentions for their visit

○ He is a captain of the greatest King and Prince in the world, and he was going to discover Maluco.

○ Good report from Rajah Colambu about Cebu. He would buy food with his merchandise.

    • Tribute was demanded by Rajah Humabon ○ Since his master is a great king, he does not need to pay tribute to any seignior in the world.

○ If the king wants peace, peace shall he obtain. If war, then war.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

April 8, 1521

• A notary along with the interpreter returned to Zubu(Cebu).

• Asked Rajah Humabon to establish trade.

• Friendship through blood compact.

Rajah Humabon was baptised and was named Don Carlo but some of the chiefs refused.

• Rajah Humabon swore to help Magellan conquer his enemies especially the growing muslim community.

• Queen Juana also converted to Christianity and was handed a Wooden Child Jesus sculpture(Sto. Niño).

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

  • Magellan found out that in the Islander’s tradition, fathers and mothers who grew old received no more further honor

○ Injected how God made everything and commanded us to honor our mother and father

○ How we descended from Adam and Eve, and from the Holy Spirit

  • Success in spreading his faith to the Islanders → gained the response of the people to be baptized.

Conversion of the Islanders

April 14, 1521 (Sunday) ○ brought over 40 men from the ship with the Royal banner

○ Rajah Humabon wished to be a Christian, but some of his chiefs would not obey

Christian Names assigned by Magellan

★ Rajah Humabon - Don Carlo ★ the Prince - Don Fernando ★ king of Mazaua - Johanni ★ a chief - Fernando ★ the Muslim - Christoforo ○ and so the other 500 people present during that mass

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

★ Queen Juana - Johanna ★ her daughter (wife of the Prince) - Catherina ★ Queen of Mazaua - Lisabeta ○ and so the other 800 people -- men, women and children present during that mass after dinner

Magellan Gives Proof of His Faith

➢ Gave Queen Juana the image of the child Jesus, saying she should have it in place of her idols

➢ Told the people who worship paganism to burn their idols and believe in Christ

Case in point:

Testimony of the sick man ➔ the man can’t move or speak for 4 days ➔ after he was baptized and his 10 daughters, he said that he was feeling well with the Grace of the Lord

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Filipino Sexuality

Pigafetta interviewed and examined couples at length. Here are some of his findings:��“Both young and old males pierce their penises with a gold or tin rod the size of a goose quill. In both ends of the same bolt, some have what resembles a spur, with points upon the ends; others are like the head of a cart nail. I very often asked many, both young and old, to see their penis, because I could not credit it. In the middle of the bolt is a hole, through which they urinate.The bolt and the spurs always hold firm. They say that the women wish it so, and if they did otherwise they would not have communication with them.When a man wishes to have intercourse with a woman, she takes his penis not in the normal way, but gently introduces first the top spur and then the bottom one into her vagina. Once inside, the penis becomes erect and cannot be withdrawn until it is limp.”�Pigafetta asserted that the women hated this mode of fornication, which lacerated their organs. “they very much preferred our men to their own,” he noted with the hint of a boast.

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Filipino Sexuality

The Tudruk or Tugbuk (Penis Pin) and Sakra (Penis Ring) were objects used by the early Cebuanos and other ethnic groups to add spice and excitement to their sexual lifestyle. Unfortunately, this practice of putting tudruk and sakra on male penises were prohibited when the Catholic Spanish missionaries came to the island. One of the missionaries had even conducted a tedious individual penis inspection to get rid of these things that they called “satanic and barbaric”. The European missionaries were dumbfounded when they found out that the natives were practicing such “malevolent deeds”.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

Sacrifice of Swine

➢ They dance and call-out to the sun to show their worship to it

➢ Would be started with the two very old women, wearing kerchiefs to their heads and holding one at their hands while dancing on the spread Cambaia cloth

➢ ONLY OLD women were to do the ceremony and will NOT eat the hog unless done this way. The women are called babaylanes or the priestesses of prehispanic period.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

Death of Magellan (April 27, 1521)

There are many villages in Zubu:

  1. Cinghapola - Chiefs: Cilaton, Ciguibucan, Cimaningha, Cimaticat, and Cicanbuk
  2. Mandaui - Apanoaan
  3. Lalan - Theteu
  4. Lalutan - Tapan
  5. Cilumai
  6. Libucun

They were decked in an island called Matan and the chiefs were Zula and Cilapulapu* → refused to obey the King of Spain , thus they attacked them

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

Death of Magellan (April 27, 1521)

The islanders asked the Spaniards not to attack during the night as a trick to lure them into their traps.

The Spaniards docked far from the beach as it has shallow waters.

Spaniards had 49 people while the islanders had 1500* people with spears and daggers.

Magellan had his right leg pierced with a poisoned arrow.

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Death of Magellan (April 27, 1521)

Magellan refused to retreat and eventually gets his face lanced through the face by an Indian.

A javelin pierced his right arm

A greatsword through his left leg put him down and was later swarmed while his men retreated to the ships.

The battle was fought on a saturday. Eight from the ship’s men died (Magellan included), and four from Islander’s turned Christians which aided them.

The body of the captain was not retrieved, for the islander intended it to be kept as a memorial.

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ANALYSIS of the Important HISTORICAL INFORMATION continued…

Other information:

•After the death of Magellan, Duarte Barbosa Takes the Command. Later on, Juan Sebastián del Cano replaced him as the captain of Victoria and he was responsible of completing the voyage of Magellan in circumnavigating the world and reach back Spain in year 1522.

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Other information:

Treachery of Rajah Humabon

  • After the death of Magellan at the Battle of Mactan and the consequent failure of the Spanish to defeat Lapu Lapu, Humabon and his warriors plotted to poison the remaining Spanish soldiers in Cebu during a feast. Several men were killed including the then-leaders of the expedition, Duarte Barbosa and João Serrão.
  • According to the chronicler Pigafetta, Serrão, begging to be saved from the Cebuano tribesmen, allegedly referred to Enrique (Magellan's slave) as having instigated the massacre by claiming to Humabon that the Europeans planned to take over the rajahnate.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“The people are as tall us, and well made: they adore nothing, and when they are born they are white, later they become brown, and have their teeth black and red”

  • Changes our current visualization of our Filipino ancestors.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“ Saturday, March 16, 1521, we arrived at daybreak in sight of a high island”

  • There was already a society on the island. Magellan did not discover the Philippines nor did he meet uncivilized people on it. We already had trade and hierarchy.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“When these people had come into this island towards us, immediately the principal one amongst them went towards the captain-general with demonstrations of being very joyous at our arrival.”

  • There was no conflict between the two parties; trade was sought after seeing the items the Spaniards were able to produce.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“When they wished to us they took leave of the captain and of us with very good manners and gracefulness, promising us to come back and see us.”

  • ● The islanders in Humunu (Homonhon) had nothing against the foreigners and even expressed good conduct.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“The lord of these people was old, and had his face painted, and had gold rings suspended to his ears, which they named Schione, and the others had many bracelets and rings of gold on their arms, with a wrapper of linen around their head.”

  • Proves that we have a sense of royalty or hierarchy
  • We practice craftsmanship with jewelry
  • Gives the idea of gold mines on the island

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Gold Religious Carvings

Prior to the arrival of Christianity, majority of our ancestors were Animists and Polytheists, believing in numerous gods and goddesses and the spirits the live alongside us. Prior to that we have evidence based on artifacts and the oldest written document, the Laguna Copperplate, proving that at least in some parts of the Philippines at some point in our historical timeline our ancestors practiced a form of Hindu-Buddhist beliefs that is today seen in other parts of Southeast Asia. Some of these artifacts derive from gold artifacts depicting religious carvings of a well known Hindu-Buddhist goddess and some mythical creatures.

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  • The Golden Tara of Agusan, was discovered in July of 1917 after a flood and storm swept through  through Agusan Del Sur in the barangay Cubo Esperanza. After the storm a Manobo woman named Bilay Ocampo was on the banks of the muddy Wawa River where she eventually found the figure where it washed up from the river. The 21-karat gold figure dating to around 850 to 950 C.E. weighs 4 lbs and depicts a woman sitting in the lotus position in Buddhism, is ornamented with jewelry on her body, and wears a headdress. This figure turned out to be a representation of the Bodhisattva Tara.

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  • Another gold artifact of religious significance is the Kinnari, half-bird, half-woman creatures who are renowned for their dance, song and poetry, and are a traditional symbol of feminine beauty, grace and accomplishment. The Kinnari was found in 1981 in Surigao along with other treasures.

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  • Our ancestors were so fond of their gold that they would bury their dead with their gold ornaments to bring with them to the spirit world. It was believed that after being ferried over the spiritual river to the afterlife, those who were wearing their gold and covered in tattoos were recognized by their ancestors and those who didn’t weren’t thus they were not accepted by their ancestors and the deities. So in order to be accepted in the afterlife they were often adorned with the gold jewelry they owned and wore during their lifetime and some were also given death masks made out of gold sheets that covered the eyes, nose, and mouth.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“On sunday, the last day of March, and feast of Easter, the captain sent the chaplain ashore early to say mass.” and “the two kings went to kiss the cross like us.” “They thought to excuse themselves sufficiently by saying that they did not do that now on their own account, but for a sick person, for the idols to restore him his health. The sick man was the brother of a prince.”

  • Attending mass and the thought of Christianity was easily embraced by the islanders not because of their full understanding of the faith but for pragmatic purposes like the leader’s aim of gaining the trust of a possible powerful ally, or for the subordinates just following their leaders’ wishes.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

“Thus no one but old women consecrate the flesh of the hog, and they do not eat it unless it is killed in this way.”

  • During pre-Hispanic period, women shared equal footing with men in society. They were allowed to divorce, own and inherit property, and even lead their respective barangays or territories. During pre-colonial times, Philippines was largely matriarchal, with the opinions of women holding great weight in matters of politics and religion (they also headed the rituals as the babaylans).

“They say that their women wish it so, and that if they did otherwise they would not have communication with them.”

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Zula said to Magellan that Silapulapu would not obey the king in anyway and is preventing him in doing so.

  • One of the causes of the fight was the rivalry between Silapulapu and Raja Humabon
  • Another is Silapulapu did not want to be under the commands of the king of Spain
  • War strategy was exhibited by the men of Silapulapu
  • This gave the idea that ancient Filipino were not simply naïve on the real purpose of the coming of the Spaniards to the archipelago but they were very much aware of aside from trading, the Spain came in order to dominate them especially when the latter would often not give tribute to them.

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CONTRIBUTION and RELEVANCE to the Grand Narrative of the PHILIPPINE HISTORY continued…..

•Pigafetta’s perspective on viewing the culture of the Philippines

–The Islands were resourceful

–Filipinos were friendly and

hospitable

•Magellan was not the first to go around the world. An Asian from Malacca, named Enrique was able to complete the voyage

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Relevance to the Modern World

  • Preceding Trade between Native Filipinos and other Nationalities (e.g. Chinese) before the Spaniards came.

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Relevance to the Modern World continued…

  • The Introduction of Catholic Faith in the Philippines, though successful within the area of Visayas and Luzon, this acquired new religion is more of a syncretic religion where old was simply fused with the new. This can be seen through Filipinos today still believe on the enkantos, dwende, nuno sa punso, and going to the “tambalan” or faith healers when they are sick and not feeling well.

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Relevance to the Modern World continued…

  • Hierarchal Society already existed in the Islands, though branded by Spaniards as backwards or primitive. The smallest political unit today (barangay) had its roots with the past (balangai) even the socio-political relations had its direct connection. The barangay today is very much like of the barangay of the past wherein the socio, economic, and political power resides in the barangay kapitan/datu.

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Relevance to the Modern World continued…

  • Initial attempt on conquering the Islands using the “divide et impera” (divide and conquer) tactic used by the Spaniards made a divisive effect even until now specially in the regionalistic loyalty of the people and religious war between Christians and Muslims in the South.

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Relevance to the Modern World continued…

  • Our country was thought to be the main source of spices by the westerners and even thought it to be a good source of wealth in the form of gold. Today, our country still being sought by many foreigners not only of the goods (raw materials) but also on the human resources (the ofws) we offer to the world.

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Relevance to the Modern World continued…

  • Established customs, traditions and beliefs are very much rooted to the events that transpired from the past. The religious festivals of today served as an example where the old and the new traditions merged.

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References

Sources:

http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/10791824?selectedversion=NBD580787 http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/history/regional-history-after-1500/first-voyage-round-world-magellantranslated-accounts-pigafetta-and-other-contemporary-writers http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/websites/pacific/magellan/magellan.html http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/culture5.htm http://pinayforeverythingpinoy.blogspot.com/2012/03/this-day-in-history-ferdinand-magellan.html

Carboni, Stefano. Venice and the Islamic world, 828-1797: Yale University Press, 2007 - The black Sto. Nino [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://i1.wp.com/historicphilippines.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/10/images-211.jpg - Historic Old Philippines. (n.d.). Magellan, Discovers Philippines & then Dies in Battle. Part 2 - [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://historicphilippines.com/the-explorers/magellan-elcano-pigafetta-the-first-to-circumnavigate-the-world/magellandiscovers-philippines-dies/ - The Mariner’s Museum (1999). Antonio Pigafetta. Retrieved 15 September 2015 from http://ageofex.marinersmuseum.org/? type=travelwriter&id=7 - NatGeo Creative (2015). Portrait of Antonio Pigafetta by Bjorn Landsrom. Retrieved 15 September 2015 from http://www. natgeocreative.com/photography/221686 - Pigafetta, Antonio. (1969). First Voyage Around the World. Manila: Filipiniana Book Guild. - Princeton University. (n.d.). Pacific spice islands [Map]. Retrieved from http://libweb5.princeton. edu/visual_materials/maps/websites/pacific/spice-islands/Spain_and_Portugal.jpg - Promis, Domenico Casimiro, 1804-1874. (1867). Monete di zecche italiane. Torino: Stamperia reale. - Reed, J.M. After You Antonio. Retrieved 15 September 2015 from http://bba-intl.com/bbafyipigafetta.html - Simon, M. (2014, September 17). Fantastically Wrong: Magellan's Strange Encounter With the 10-Foot Giants of Patagonia | WIRED [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2014/09/fantastically-wrong-giants-of-patagonia/ - Stanley, H. E., Pigafetta, A., & Hakluyt Society. (2010). The first voyage round the world, by Magellan [Adobe Acrobat File]. - Treaty of Tordesillas: 1494. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/Americas/Tordesillas.html