DiscoverHistory FixEp. 119 Magellan: How Ferdinand Magellan Claimed the Credit Without Actually Circumnavigating the Earth
Ep. 119 Magellan: How Ferdinand Magellan Claimed the Credit Without Actually Circumnavigating the Earth

Ep. 119 Magellan: How Ferdinand Magellan Claimed the Credit Without Actually Circumnavigating the Earth

Update: 2025-06-22
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In keeping with the nautical theme I accidentally adopted this month, I'll be exploring the rather misleading story of sixteen century Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan this week. Magellan's claim to fame is being the first person to circumnavigate the globe, to sail all the way around the Earth, a full circle. That really is Magellan’s only claim to fame. Except for one thing. He never even did that. Did you know that, despite claiming all the credit posthumously, Magellan only made it about three quarters of the way around the world? One of his five ships did return to Spain after a mostly disastrous voyage but Magellan was no longer on board. So who should really claim the credit? Who was the first person to circumnavigate the Earth? Let’s fix that. 

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Ep. 119 Magellan: How Ferdinand Magellan Claimed the Credit Without Actually Circumnavigating the Earth

Ep. 119 Magellan: How Ferdinand Magellan Claimed the Credit Without Actually Circumnavigating the Earth

Shea LaFountaine