In 1517 Ferdinand Magellan proposed to King Charles I of Spain for a fully funded expedition to find a western sea route to the Moluccas Islands. If Magellan could find an easy way through or around South America it would enable the Spanish to set up a profitable trade route with the Molaccas, known for its abundance of spices. On May 22,1518 King Charles I granted Magellan enough money to buy five ships.
Over 250 men were divided up amongst the Trinidad, the San Antonio, the Concepcion, the Victoria, and the Santiago. The ships set sail on their journey on September 20, 1519 from a port in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain. The ships sailed south along the coast of Africa until they reached the equator. They then turned to head across the Atlantic Ocean toward northern Brazil.
On September 6, 1522 the final ship, the Victoria, with only 18 men returned to Spain with cloves it had picked up in Moluccas. The cloves were worth so much that Spain was repaid for the four lost ships and was able to profit. When Magellan died, by traveling west he had made it past his earlier eastward voyage. Magellan is known as the first man to travel around the world, proving it to be round.
uth America at a city in Brazil called Recife. The fleet continued down the coast in search of a passageway through South America. Trades were made in Rio de Janeiro with native Americans in December. Port San Julian in Argentina gave the crew winter shelter for five months. Shortly after resuming voyage, one of the ships was driven to shore and lost exploring an inlet.
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