Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was born in 1480 into a rich family in Portugal. When he was 12, he started work as a page for the Queen of Portugal. At school, he studied map-making, astronomy and navigation. He also loved sailing.

In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain. He took five ships and 270 crew. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, there was a mutiny on three of his ships. Magellan managed to stop the mutiny before it was too late. Soon after, one of the ships was destroyed in a sudden storm.

In 1520, Magellan reached the tip of South America. Suddenly, one of the ships deserted and sailed back to Spain. There were only three ships left. Later that year, Magellan and his crew sailed safely into a vast new sea. He called it the Pacific Ocean.

In 1521, Magellan sailed across the Pacific Ocean to an island called Guam. They stayed only

a short time in Guam then sailed on to the Philippines. During this time, Magellan was involved in a local war. Magellan and 40 of his men died in the fighting.

In 1522, the survivors arrived home in Spain. Out of 270 crew, only 18 made it home.

Normally, people had to sail around Africa to get to the Spice Islands (which are called Indonesia today). This was a long and dangerous journey. Magellan, however, thought that there was a shorter and safer route around South America. He went to visit the King of Spain who liked Magellan’s idea and agreed to pay for the voyage.

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Questions1. Where was Ferdinand Magellan born?

Spain France Portugal

2. When he was 12, who did Magellan work for?

Queen of Portugal Queen of Spain Queen of France

3. Who paid for Magellan’s voyage?

The King of Spain The King of Portugal The King of France

4. When did Magellan set sail from Spain?

1517 1518 1519

5. Fill in the missing word in the sentence below.

In 1520, Magellan reached the ____________ of South America.

6. What happened to Magellan in the Philippines?

7. Why do you think so few sailors returned to Spain?

Ferdinand Magellan

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Answers1. Where was Ferdinand Magellan born?

Spain France Portugal

2. When he was 12, who did Magellan work for?

Queen of Portugal Queen of Spain Queen of France

3. Who paid for Magellan’s voyage?

The King of Spain The King of Portugal The King of France

4. When did Magellan set sail from Spain?

1517 1518 1519

5. Fill in the missing word in the sentence below. In 1520, Magellan reached the tip of South America.

6. What happened to Magellan in the Philippines? In the Philippines, Magellan was involved in a local war. Magellan and 40 of his men died in the fighting.

7. Why do you think so few sailors returned to Spain? Children’s own responses, such as: Few sailors returned home because there was a sudden storm and also many sailors died in the Phillippines.

Ferdinand Magellan

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Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was born in 1480. He was from a rich noble family in northern Portugal. When he was 12, he started work as a page for the Queen of Portugal. At school, he studied cartography (map-making), astronomy and navigation. He also loved sailing.

In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships and 270 crew. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, there was a mutiny on three of his ships. Soon after, disaster struck when one of the ships was destroyed in a sudden storm.

In 1520, Magellan reached the southern tip of South America. Without warning, one of the ships deserted and sailed back to Spain. Later that year, Magellan and his crew sailed safely into a vast new sea. He called it the Pacific Ocean.

In 1521, Magellan sailed across the Pacific Ocean to Guam. The journey took a long time and his crew starved. They did not stop for long and soon sailed on to the Philippines. There, Magellan was involved in a local war. Magellan and 40 of his men died in the fighting.

Eventually, in 1522, the crew returned to Spain. They became the first people to sail around the world. By doing so, they completed Magellan’s expedition and the first circumnavigation of the planet.

In Magellan’s time, spices, such as cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon, were in demand throughout Europe. These spices could only be found in faraway places like India and the Spice Islands (Indonesia). To reach India and the Spice Islands, people normally had to sail around Africa into the Indian Ocean. This was a long and dangerous journey via the Cape of Good Hope. Magellan, however, thought that there was a shorter and safer route around the southern tip of South America. He visited the King of Spain, who liked Magellan’s idea and agreed to fund his voyage.

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Questions1. What subjects did Ferdinand Magellan study as a young man?

cartography art carpentry

2. Draw a line to complete the sentences.

3. Who did Magellan persuade to fund his voyage?

Queen of Portugal King of Spain King of Portugal

4. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, how many ships mutinied?

3 4 5

5. In which year did Magellan reach the southern tip of South America?

6. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below. Without warning, one of the ships ________________ and sailed back to Spain.

Ferdinand Magellan

Spices, such as cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon,

five ships and 270 crew.

He tookMagellan set sail from

Spain.

In 1519,were in demand

throughout Europe.

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7. Why did Magellan fail to circumnavigate the world?

8. Explain why Magellan is remembered today.

Ferdinand Magellan

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Answers1. What subjects did Ferdinand Magellan study as a young man?

cartography art carpentry

2. Draw a line to complete the sentences.

3. Who did Magellan persuade to fund his voyage?

Queen of Portugal King of Spain King of Portugal

4. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, how many ships mutinied?

3 4 5

5. In which year did Magellan reach the southern tip of South America?

In 1520, Magellan reached the southern tip of South America.

6. Fill in the missing words in the sentence below. Without warning, one of the ships deserted and sailed back to Spain.

Ferdinand Magellan

Spices, such as cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon,

five ships and 270 crew.

He tookMagellan set sail from

Spain.

In 1519,were in demand

throughout Europe.

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7. Why did Magellan fail to circumnavigate the world? Magellan failed to circumnavigate the world because he was involved in a local war. Magellan and 40 of his men died in the fighting.

8. Explain why Magellan is remembered today. Children’s own responses, such as: Magellan is remembered today because his voyage led to the world being circumnavigated. He also became the first European to sail around the southern tip of South America.

Ferdinand Magellan

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Ferdinand MagellanFerdinand Magellan was born in 1480. He was from a wealthy noble family in northern Portugal. At the age of 12, he began work as a page to the Queen of Portugal. At school, he studied cartography (map-making), astronomy and navigation. These studies, along with his early passion for sailing, would serve him well in the future.

In 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain. He took five ships and 270 crew. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, there was a mutiny on three of the ships. Magellan managed to quell the uprising and executed the leaders. However, he forgave many mutineers because he needed their skills. Soon after, disaster

struck again when one of the ships was destroyed in a sudden storm.

By 1520, Magellan had reached the southern tip of South America. During the careful exploration of this new sea passage, another ship deserted and sailed back to Spain. Now there were only three ships left. Nevertheless, later that year, Magellan and his crew successfully sailed into a vast new sea.

He called it the Pacific Ocean.

In Europe at the time, there was great demand for spices, such as cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg from places like India and the Spice Islands (modern-day Indonesia). In turn, Portugal and Spain made a fortune through trading these goods in Europe. Magellan was convinced that there was a safer route around the Americas to these rich markets. This route would avoid the dangerous seas and pirates that could be encountered on the normal route around Africa. Magellan suggested his plan to the King of Portugal but he angrily rejected the idea. In desperation, Magellan went to the King of Spain. Fortunately, he liked the plan and this king agreed to fund the voyage.

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In 1521, after a long journey, wracked by starvation and an outbreak of scurvy, across the Pacific Ocean, Magellan reached Guam. Soon after, they continued on to the island of Cebu in the Philippines. However, while he was there, Magellan became involved in a local war and he was killed in the fighting. After he died, the crew decided to sail home to Spain.

At long last, in late 1522, the survivors arrived home. 18 sailors in total returned to Spain. Nevertheless, they had completed the expedition and became the first people to circumnavigate the globe.

Ferdinand Magellan

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Questions1. He was born into a wealthy noble family in northern Portugal.

What does the word wealthy mean?

2. What are the Spice Islands called today?

Malaysia Japan Indonesia

3. Match each question to the answer.

4. Why did Magellan have to take his plan to the King of Spain?

5. List two problems the crew faced during the voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Guam.

6. Fill in the missing words from this sentence. During the journey across the ______________ Ocean, there was a mutiny on ____________ of the ships.

Ferdinand Magellan

How many crew members did Magellan take?

5

How many crew members survived the voyage?

18

How many ships did Magellan take on

his voyage?270

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7. Find and copy a word from the third paragraph which means an open revolt against a captain, especially by soldiers and sailors.

8. Why did Ferdinand Magellan choose to only execute the leaders of the mutiny?

9. Why do you think Ferdinand Magellan is remembered for the first circumnavigation of Earth if he did not complete the journey?

Ferdinand Magellan

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Answers1. He was born into a wealthy noble family in northern Portugal.

What does the word wealthy mean? Accept an answer that describes ‘wealthy’ as rich.

2. What are the Spice Islands called today?

Malaysia Japan Indonesia

3. Match each question to the answer.

4. Why did Magellan have to take his plan to the King of Spain? He took his plan to the King of Spain because the King of Portugal angrily rejected his idea.

5. List two problems the crew faced during the voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Guam. starvation, scurvy

6. Fill in the missing words from this sentence. During the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, there was a mutiny on three of the ships.

7. Find and copy a word from the third paragraph which means an open revolt against a captain, especially by soldiers and sailors. Accept ‘mutiny’ only.

Ferdinand Magellan

How many crew members did Magellan take?

5

How many crew members survived the voyage?

18

How many ships did Magellan take on

his voyage?270

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8. Why did Ferdinand Magellan choose to only execute the leaders of the mutiny? He only executed the leaders because he needed the skills of the other sailors.

9. Why do you think Ferdinand Magellan is remembered for the first circumnavigation of Earth if he did not complete the journey? Children’s own responses, such as: I think Ferdinand Magellan is remembered today because he led the voyage and it was his idea to go on the journey. Even though he did not survive, he was the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean via the southern tip of South America.

Ferdinand Magellan

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