Back in the days of
wooden ships and iron men, Ferdinand Magellan was just 10 years old when his
parents died, after which he became a page to the Portuguese royal court. His
early seafaring years were eventful and saw him participate in many battles.
However, when the Portuguese authorities accused him of illegal dealings with the
Moors, Magellan headed for Spain to offer his services to King Charles V. The
King was anxious to capitalize on the lucrative spice trade, so the king
sponsored Magellan in his bid to circumnavigate the world, and the explorer set
sail in 1519. At the time, many people still thought the world to be flat. Although
beset with problems ranging from mutiny to scurvy, Magellan was able to cross
the Atlantic and entered what became known as the Strait of Magellan. The
voyage also turned out to be the first to steer a course across the Pacific. In
September of 1522, a solitary ship crept into port in Spain, completing the
first circumnavigation of the globe and forever shattering the myth that the
world was flat. Magellan however was not on board as he had been killed in a
battle in the Philippines in 1521.
