Relations to the other 16th Century Explorers

Influence towards the other 16th Century Explorers

Ferdinand Magellan carried on the Portuguese supremacy in the ocean exploration areas in 15th century and 16th century. The Portuguese King Henry the Navigator led the Age of Discovery, and later his explorations were continued by Alfonso de Albuquerque, Vasco de Gama and Bartolomeu. But the Portuguese kept their directions and findings of ocean journeys secret in order to maintain their supremacy over the Italians and the Spanish. By so doing, Portugal hoped that the treasures from other countries would only belong to them.

Magellan was a brave and disciplined captain in managing his fleet and his crew and was meticulous in his mapping out his findings. He also had the foresight to being along a very detailed writer Antonio Pigafetta to record down in details all the findings which occurred in his journey. His journey was the longest ocean journey ever taken by any European explorer and his records showed the other explorers that not only the world was round, but that the world between Europe and Asia was connected by water. The myths and mysteries of what existed outside Europe and Atlantic Ocean was destroyed, thus building up the courage and confidence in the later 16th century explorers to sail and explore more new unfound territories. The proof of Magellan in what the world reality was had mapped out to the future explorers a bearing of how they could navigate safer in their journeys, enabling them to plan better and ensuring their return journey back to home country.

Tthe return of Pigafetta and his book showing what the facts were about the oceans influenced other Spanish sailors to undertake more explorations in America and Asia. The latter part of 16th century after Magellan witnessed a surge of more Spanish expeditions than Portuguese, resulting in discovery of New Mexico and Jamaica, Cuba, and Peru as well as the colonization of the different locations in America, such as Florida, S. Carolina, and as far as New Mexico.

Below are a list of some of the explorers along with their own reference links. Fell free to sail there!!

Alfonso de Alberquerque (1453 - 1515). The Portuguese explorer who also failed to discover the Spice islands, but took the route through the indian Ocean instead.

Amerigo Vespucci (1454 - 1512). The Italian explorer who first discovered that America was separate from Asia.

Bartolomeu Dias (1457 -1500). A great Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, and discovering the trading routes from Europe to Asia within.

Bernal Diaz del Castillo (1492 - 1584). The Spanish historian and soldier who chronicled over the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

Christopher Columbus (1451 - 1506). The very well-known Italian explorer who also journeyed for the Spice Islands and the one who theorized the world is round.

Francisco Pizarro (1478 - 1541). The Spanish conquistador who traveled the Pacific, discovering and especially conquering the Incan empire, robbing most of its treasures.

Juan Ponce De Leon (1460 - 1521). A Spanish explorer who was the first European to set foot on Florida and discovering the Gulf Stream, while in determination to discover the Fountain of Youth.

Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467 - 1520). Portuguese navigator who went to Brazil. His patron was Manuel I of Portugal. Cabral landed in India and traded spices, and later returned to Portugal in 1501, with 4 out of 13 original ships.

Sebastian Cabot (1484 - 1557). The Italian mapmaker and navigator who intended to discover China via. South America but was unsuccessful.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa (1475 - 1519). The Spanish conquistador who crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean.