The voyage
In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set out from Spain in a fleet of 5 ships in search of fame and fortune, hoping to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands. During the voyage, Magellan and his crew discovered what is now known as the Strait of Magellan and he became the first european to cross the Pacific Ocean. The voyage was long and very dangerous, and Magellan died during a local battle in the Philippines. Out of the 200-some crew members in the 5 ships, only 1 ship of 18 crew members survived the 3 years it took them to return home. Magellan's voyage proved the globe could be circled by sea, and the earth was much bigger than everyone had previously believed.