At that time, Columbus had discovered the new continent of America. Gamma also returned from India, bringing back great oriental wealth. With longing for oriental wealth and ocean exploration, Magellan joined an overseas expedition in 1505 and began his ocean exploration career. During this expedition to India, Malacca and Malay Archipelago, in order to compete with Arabs for trade territory and gain the hegemony of South Asian seas, the expedition fought several wars with Arab businessmen and residents along the way, and Magellan was injured three times.
After Magellan recovered from his injury, the ship ran aground on the way back to Portugal. When everyone was disheartened, Magellan stepped forward and led the surviving sailors to overcome many difficulties until they were rescued. Because of this, Magellan was promoted to captain and was left in India. Since then, Magellan participated in the colonial wars in India and Southeast Asia, and explored and traveled in this area.
He learned from the field that the East of the Southeast Asian Islands is the Wang Yang Sea. He firmly believed that the earth was round, and speculated that Columbus must have discovered America to the east of the sea. He made up his mind to travel around the world. 15 13 Magellan returned to Portugal. He repeatedly asked the king to allow him to organize a fleet to explore all over the world, but the king ignored him. Desperate Magellan had to leave the motherland in 15 17 and go to the fortress commander in Seville, Spain. The commander of the fortress greatly appreciated his talent and courage. He not only married his daughter to him, but also recommended him to the king of Spain. Magellan's plan to sail around the world was approved by the King of Spain and he signed an agreement on ocean exploration.
According to the agreement, Magellan was appointed as the leader of the expedition, and the ships of the fleet were provided by the state, and the navigation expenses were borne by the state. Any land found in the expedition belongs to the king, Magellan is the governor, and one twentieth of all the income from the newly discovered land belongs to Magellan. In order to supervise Magellan, the king sent members of the royal family as representatives of the fleet.
1565438+In September, 2009, Magellan led a mighty fleet consisting of more than 200 people and five ships, and set off from Seville, Spain, and began a global ocean exploration.
After more than two months of drifting, the fleet crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached the coast of Brazil. The fleet continued to sail south along the coast and came to a wide bay in the second year 1 month.
"The channel is found!" "The channel is found!"
The sailors cheered happily, thinking that they had reached the southern tip of the United States and could enter the new ocean. However, when the fleet advanced in the bay, it was found that the seawater had turned into fresh water. It was originally just a wide estuary, which is the outlet of the La Plata River in Uruguay today.
The fleet continued to move south. The seasons in the southern hemisphere are just the opposite of those in the northern hemisphere. In March, South America approached winter, and sailing was extremely difficult because of the snowstorm. At the end of the month, the fleet came to St. Julian's port and stayed here for the winter.
Due to the failure of several attempts to explore the Strait, most sailors were discouraged, and the three captains also took the opportunity to oppose Magellan. Magellan made a plan to quell the rebellion and avoid the end of the voyage.
After nearly five months of rest, in August, in the spring season in this area, Magellan led the fleet to set off again. As one ship sank during the voyage in May, there were only four ships left at this time.
Two months later, the fleet found another estuary at 52 degrees south latitude. The strait is winding, narrow and wide, and the ports are criss-crossing and choppy. Magellan sent a ship to explore the sea, but the ship turned around and fled back to Spain. Magellan had to lead the remaining three ships to grope their way in the maze-like channel. Magellan led the fleet forward with a strong will. After 1 month's circuitous voyage in this strait, they finally walked out of the west mouth of the strait and saw the vast sea. Magellan, who has always been known for his composure and firmness, shed tears with excitement.
In order to commemorate Magellan's contribution to this voyage, later generations named this strait "strait of magellan". If you open the map of the world, you will find it at the southernmost tip of South America, 52 degrees south latitude.
The fleet has been sailing in this ocean for more than three months, and the sea surface has been calm. Therefore, they named it "Pacific Ocean".
152 1 At the beginning of March, when water and food were exhausted and everyone was tired and weak, the fleet came to the rich Mariana Islands and was warmly treated by the local residents. The fleet arrived in the Philippines at the end of March. How excited Magellan was when Henry, the servant brought back from Malacca, spoke to the local aborigines in Malay! His dream of sailing around the world will finally come true. He sailed from west to west and finally reached the east. He proved with irrefutable facts that the earth is really round.
In order to conquer this rich land rich in spices, this brave but ambitious Magellan tried to use the contradictions between local tribes to achieve his goal, but in a conflict with local tribes, Magellan was killed. Finally, Magellan's assistant burned a broken ship and led the two remaining ships across the Straits of Malacca, through the Indian Ocean and the Cape of Good Hope, and finally returned to Spain in September 1522. At this time, there is only one ship left in the whole fleet, 18 crew.
From September 15 19 to September 1922, it took Magellan and his crew three years to finally complete the first round-the-world voyage. Although Magellan passed away, his contribution to navigation and science in later generations is unforgettable for all of us.