part1-info+about+magellan

[[image:ferdinand_magellan_charcoal_fur_robe.jpg width="252" height="276" link="http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/ferdinand_magellan.htm"]] //**Eugene Lowe**//
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who was the first explorer to sail or circumnavigate around the entire globe. With 250 men on 5 ships, he sailed around the southern end of South America and into the waters of the pacific. Magellan met the Philippines after exploring the island, Guam. His goals were to convert natives of the lands he explored to Christianity and to colonize the area. Diseases, bad weather, and Portugal attacks interupted his voyage. This was due to the Portugal king not funding his voyage. Instead, he turned to the King Charles who was the ruler of Spain. He was convinced to fund his voyage. Magellan found spices on his islands and claimed it for Spain. His voyage indeed helped colonize and convert many Philippiens into Christianity. Although, the chief refused to convert and had Magellan killed. His sailors and Magellan were not violent to the natives but more-so tried to help them and spread their religion. Magellan and his crew encountered many peoples and unfortunately the Philippiens were hostile to them. Even though he was a Portugal, the Spanish helped him on his voyage and they coroperated with each other. Along with them they brought diseases which devestated the natives and made them angry at the explorers who brought the diseases. It was not an intentional harm but it still hurt the population. Magellan did not reach his intentional destination to reach the spice islands but he contributted greatly to the voyages of exploration. Magellan believed that some spice islands lay within the Spanish territory and asked Charles V to fund his voyage to see if this was true. Many of Magellan's men died because of diseases during the voyage and he went on taking a force of 60 men to another island. The colonists thought of Magellan as good because he explored the world and opened new routes of exploration. Natives thought of his as an intruder and someone who wanted to force them to convert to Christianity. Magellan's determination to convert natives to Christianity resulted in fights and them not liking Magellan's view of religious beliefs. Magellan did not intend to have much trouble and conflict on his voyage but the problems still arosed to lead to his death. Only 18 of his men returned to Spain which shows how dangerous and difficult his voyage was. He opened new doors for explorers who were looking for new routes.