Resource: Juan Sebastián Elcano

Description

Juan Sebastián Elcano was the commander who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth started by Ferdinand Magellan (who died en route and never completed the circumnavigation).

Elcano had been one of the mutineers in Patagonia and spent 5 months in chains, but later, after the disastrous circumstances surrounding Magellan’s death, Elcano took command and led the remains of the expedition home. He was given high honours by Spain and a coat of arms indicating that he had undertaken the first circumnavigation. However, his name was later eclipsed in popularity by Magellan.

This resource examines the life of this relatively unknown explorer who was in fact one of the first people to travel around the whole Earth.