Biography of Ferdinand Magellan (plus some extra review questions!!)

Essay by jinniezHigh School, 10th gradeA+, April 2004

download word file, 5 pages 3.7

Downloaded 32 times

Biography of Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was born in a noble family in Operto, Portugal in 1480, which was twelve years before Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. He attended school where he studied mapmaking and how to use the stars as a guide when sailing. In 1492, when Magellan was twelve years old, he went to court as page to the queen of Portugal, Queen Leonora. Even though he lost both his parents in his young age, he refused to become discouraged. In 1505, Magellan went on the first of several voyages to India. He helped the Portuguese viceroy of India, Francisco de Almeida to gain control of the key Indian trading ports from the Arabs. In 1509, Magellan was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to take the Malayan port of Malacca. He went on to the Spice Islands in 1511-1512, which marked the beginnings of a profitable trade in cinnamon and nutmeg.

Magellan then returned to Portugal in 1512, and was promoted as captain for his heroism. He was sent in 1513 to fight the Moors in Morocco, where he was badly wounded in battle when an Arab lance pierced his leg. He almost died, and for five months he spent recovering and when he finally did recover, he still had to walk with a severe limp for the rest of his life. When his request for an increase in his royal allowance was rejected by the King of Portugal, Emanuel, who was also indifferent to Magellan's proposal for the voyage to the Spice Islands, Magellan renounced his nationality and in 1517 offered his services to the King of Spain. King Charles of Spain liked and trusted him, and was impressed with Magellan's great knowledge in navigation. So King Charles decided to take a chance -the possibility of...