Résumé
Résumé de Le premier voyage autour du monde par Magellan
À qui s’adresse-t-il ?
For readers who love real adventure, the age of sail, and the first meetings between Europe and distant peoples.
De quoi parle ce livre ?
In September 1519, five small ships left Spain to find a western sea road to the Spice Islands. Their commander was Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese captain serving the Spanish crown. Antonio Pigafetta's account of that voyage is the best-known eyewitness record of the first crossing of the globe.
Pigafetta wrote about what he saw: winds, stars, coasts, food, boats, clothes, marriage customs and words in the languages he encounters. He also tells of hunger, mutiny, battle and death. His tone is steady and curious, and he is loyal to Magellan throughout. In this summary you will follow the voyage in order, from the plans in Spain to the long crossing of the Pacific, the killing of Magellan in the Philippines and the return home of a single ship. You will also see why the book matters as much for its small observations as for its big events. Let us begin with why the voyage was made at all.
Dans ce résumé
- 1Spain wants spices by a western roadFree
- 2Crossing the Atlantic and wintering in Patagonia
- 3Finding the strait and entering a vast ocean
- 4Islands, trade and the death of Magellan
- 5Reaching the Spice Islands and sailing home
- 6A sailor's view and what the book changed
Point clé 1 sur 6
Spain wants spices by a western road
The voyage began with a question of trade. In the early sixteenth century, spices such as cloves and nutmeg were worth a great deal in Europe, and they came from islands far to the east called the Moluccas. Portugal controlled the route around Africa. Spain wanted its own way and hoped to reach the same islands by sailing west.
Magellan was a Portuguese navigator who had served in the East. He argues to King Charles of Spain that the Spice Islands could be reached by a western passage around the southern end of the Americas. The king agreed and backed a fleet of five ships. Their names were Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepción, Victoria and Santiago.
Pigafetta explains that he joined because he wanted to see the wonders of the sea. He observes, measures and writes, and Magellan takes him into his company. He travels aboard the captain general's ship, which gives him a close view of the events that follow.
From the start, the account shows a mind that notes and records. Pigafetta lists the ports and the supplies, and he marks the date of departure from Seville and then from the Spanish coast. He sets out to describe what he sees and explain the route to readers curious about his journey. For a modern reader this is useful, because the book is built as a log of places and days. Soon the fleet leaves the known world behind, and the log begins to fill with firsts.
That’s 1 of 6 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
- Nothing to pay today · Renews every year
- We email you before you pay
- Cancel online in two clicks
Questions about Le premier voyage autour du monde par Magellan
What is The First Voyage Round the World by Magellan about?
It covers the sea route, the peoples met, the hardships and the return of the last ship.
Did Magellan finish the voyage around the world?
No. Magellan was killed in the Philippines in April 1521, before the fleet completed the circuit. One ship, the Victoria, went on and returned to Spain in 1522. Pigafetta was aboard her.
Who was Antonio Pigafetta?
Antonio Pigafetta kept a careful journal of what he saw during the voyage around the world, and it became the main source for the voyage.
Is Pigafetta's book hard to read?
It is not hard in structure, since it follows the voyage in order like a log. The scenes and observations are clear and vivid.