Magalhães and the Geographical Revolution
Discover the impact that the Magalhães’ voyage of circumnavigation had on the knowledge of the planet Earth, represented in the cartography of the time.
The Impact on Cartography by Mission Structure of the V 5th Centennial of the First Voyage of Circum-NavigationThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The Passage to the New World
Between 1519 and 1521, Magalhães commanded an expedition that would be concluded by Sebastian del Cano in 1522.
The survivors of this expedition accomplished the first circumnavigation of the Earth.
However, the great geographical discoveries were achieved in 1521, when Magalhães discovered the passage that bypassed the New World and then crossed a vast ocean still unknown to all cartographers in Eurasia.
The planet was definitely no longer imagined as a world of submerged lands (as in Fra Mauro's map of 1457) but as an ocean planet.
Cape São Vicente (2018) by João Paulo CostaThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
Cape St. Vincent
The southwestern tip of Portugal was the land's end of Europe. The world ended there, before the infinite and unknown ocean.
Relief map of Portugal (2018) by TschubbyOriginal Source: Wikimedia
Far Southwest of Portugal
Prince Henry the Navigator (1940) by Adriano de Sousa LopesThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The Start of Portuguese Maritime Expansion
In the early 15th century, Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) established a naval base in Lagos, supported by cartographers and other scholars, and ordered his sailors to sail beyond the known.
Tiles in Buçaco Palace Hotel, Mealhada, Portugal. by Jorge ColaçoOriginal Source: Wikimedia
The Portuguese Maritime Expansion
Under the impetus of Prince Henry the Navigator, Portuguese maritime expansion began when sailors managed to conquer their fear and face the legendary dark sea.
CaravelOriginal Source: Pixabay
The Caravel
The invention of a ship adapted to ocean exploration, allowed to sail with contrary winds and explore the Atlantic Ocean.
The world map of Henricus Martellus Germanus (1489) by Henricus Martellus GermanusThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The Good Hope
In 1488 the Portuguese discovered the passage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.
Adamastor
Although they permanently challenged the ocean, the navigators faced the unknown with boldness and anguish. To reach the Indian Ocean, they bent "a great and fearful cape", which Literature will repeatedly evoke - the "Adamastor", the "Monster".
Cantino Planisphere (1502) by UnknownOriginal Source: Wikimedia
The Atlantic
In the last decade of the 15th century, Portuguese, Castilian and English explorations provided the discovery of the configuration of the Atlantic Ocean.
Waldseemüller Map (1507) by Martin WaldseemüllerOriginal Source: Library of Congress
The Uncertain West
Doubts persisted, however, about the lands found to the West. Was it a New World or the Far East Asia?
World map by Francesco Rosselli (1508) by Francesco RosselliThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The Uncertain West
Doubts persisted, however, about the lands found to the West. Was it a New World or the Far East Asia?
The New World
In 1513, Vasco Nuñez de Balboa crossed Panama and demonstrated that, in fact, the New World was an entire continent, from north to south, with no passages to Asia. The spices were inaccessible to the Castilians.
Ferdinand Magellan, 16th century (1584) by André ThevetOriginal Source: Wikimedia
Meanwhile, Magalhães, with ample experience of navigation in Asia, was frustrated by not being rewarded by King Manuel I as he wished.
Treaty of Tordesillas (2007) by LencerOriginal Source: Wikimedia
Treaty of Tordesillas
The Treaty of Tordesillas had divided the world into two spheres of influence in 1494. The Portuguese and the Castilians did not know where the dividing line in Asia ran. Both claimed the right to possession of the Moluccas.
Miller Atlas - Portulan World Map (1519) by Lopo HomemThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
Besides the geo-political doubt, there was also a geographical doubt about the configuration of the world. In 1519, it was still possible to conceive a map that maintained the surface of the emersed lands and that was greater than that of the waters, as seen in this map by Lopo Homem.
Carlos I, the new ruler of Castile
He wanted to enter the spice trade, while his uncle, Manuel I of Portugal, wanted to maintain a monopoly on the sale of spices in Europe. Unhappy with his king's indifference, Magalhães decided to offer his services to the new king of Castile.
Circumnavigation route (2019) by Gonçalo CastilhoThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The circumnavigation
On September 20th 1519, Magalhães began the voyage, commanding an armada of five ships, after convincing King Charles that he knew of the existence of a passage that would bypass the American continent.
La Plata River by DiodeOriginal Source: Wikimedia
Prata River
Upon failing to discover the passage in the Prata River, Magalhães could not turn back and announce his failure, so he continued south, descending to southern latitudes never before experienced by mankind.
He had to face revolts to pursue his quest and leave the insurgents behind.
There was no memory of navigation in such southern latitudes: to get around Africa, it was enough to go down to 35ºS and now at 50ºS there was still no passage.
Magalhães’ perseverance led him to find the passage through a maze of channels. Finally the problem of the uncertain West was solved.
Cape Froward (2015) by José M. NuñezThe Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
Strait of Magalhães
The passage was discovered after five weeks of navigation through a narrow channel, with high and threatening banks.
Universal chart (1529) by Diego RiberoOriginal Source: Wikimedia
And in the following months, they discovered the largest ocean on the planet, which they crossed following a sure route that took them to the Philippines. Now, the surface of the oceans occupied half the map.
Our Ocean World: Still Worth Exploring by James B. Garvin, Ph.D.The Portuguese Task Force for the Commemorations of the V Centenary of Circumnavigation
The blue planet was discovered.
Curatorship and scientific supervision of: João Paulo Oliveira e Costa
Technical support: Mito + Rito
