First Circumnavigation of the World Terms

Longitude
Imaginary lines that run north to south on the surface of the earth. The prime meridian is 0 degrees. Each 15 degrees of longitude equals one hour of time.

King Manuel I (b. 1469 - d. 1521)
Inherited the kingdom of Portugal in 1495. He carried out his predecessor's plan for exploration of India and global expansion for Portugal.

Amerigo Vespucci (b. 1454 - d. 1512)
Born into a noble family in Florence, Italy, this Italian navigator made four voyages to America, two for Spain and two for Portugal.

Cartographer
Person who makes maps. Cartography is the science and practice of projecting by various methods an area of the Earth's surface on a flat plane, as a sheet of paper.

Charles I (Charles V) (b. 1500 - d. 1558)
Holy Roman Emperor (Charles V) from 1519 to 1556. He was king of Spain from 1516 to 1556. He ruled the Old World and the newly discovered lands to the west. He was the first king to rule a united Spain.

Antonio Pigafetta (b. 1491 - d. 1534)
One of few men to survive and complete the first circumnavigation of the globe. He was an ardent admirer of Magellan. His journal about the famous journey was later published.

Juan de Cartegena
Captain of the San Antonio, one of the ships that set sail in 1519 with Magellan. Attempted to kill Magellan and take over the expedition. He was the ringleader of a mutiny attempt. Magellan had him marooned in Patagonia in 1520.

Gaspar de Quesada
Captain of the Concepcion who joined Magellan's expedition. He plotted to kill Magellan and participated in mutiny attempts. He was executed by Magellan in 1520.

Luis de Mendoza (b. ? d. ?)
Captain of the Victoria, the only ship to make it back to complete the first circumnavigation of the globe. He plotted to kill Magellan and participated in mutinies against the great explorer. He assisted Cartegena in his attempt to take over the expedition. He most likely was executed for his treason.

Sebastian del Cano (or Elcano) (b. 1476 - d. 1526)
Piloted the Victoria back to Spain in 1522 following the death of Magellan. He aided Cartegena in his coup attempt, but was not executed because Magellan needed his seafaring skills.