Antonio Pigafetta's Account of the First Voyage Around the World

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions based on Antonio Pigafetta's primary account of the first circumnavigation of the world and his observations of the precolonial Philippines.

Antonio Pigafetta

An Italian nobleman and scholar of astronomy, geography, and cartography who served as the chronicler of the Magellan-Elcano expedition.

Knights of Rhodes

The organization whose ships Antonio Pigafetta worked on during his younger years before joining the Magellan expedition.

Ladrones Islands

Also known as the "Islands of the Thieves," these are the present-day Marianas Islands where Pigafetta described the people as poor but ingenious.

Zamal

The name used by Pigafetta to refer to the present-day island of Samar, reached ten days after the Ladrones Islands.

Uraca

The term used in the account for palm wine provided by the natives of the Philippines.

Cochos

The term used by Pigafetta for coconuts, which he described as being as large as a head with a white marrow that tastes like an almond.

Umai

The term used in the transcript for rice provided to the explorers by the natives.

Humunu Island

Also known as Homonhon, where the explorers found the "Watering Place of Good Signs" and the first signs of gold.

Archipelago of St. Lazarus

The name Magellan and his men gave to the island of Homonhon and its nearby islands.

Ballanghai (Balangay)

A native long boat full of people; Pigafetta observed two of these in Mazaua on March 25th.

Raia Siagu

The first king encountered by Magellan in the islands.

Raia Calambu

The second king, who ruled over Zuluan and Calagan (Butuan and Caragua), and offered to pilot Magellan to Cebu.

March 31, 1521

The date of the first Mass in the Philippines, which took place on Easter Sunday by the shore.

Magellan's Cross

A cross planted after the first Mass as a sign of the emperor and a protection for the land against future Spanish troubles.

Zzubu

The name used in Pigafetta's account for present-day Cebu, described as the largest and richest of the islands.

Don Charles (Carlos)

The Christian name given to the King of Cebu upon his baptism on April 14.

Infant Jesus

An image made by Pigafetta and given by Magellan to the Queen of Cebu during her attendance at Mass.

Zula

A principal man from the island of Matan (Mactan) who requested Magellan's help to fight Chief Silapulapu.

Silapulapu (Lapulapu)

The chieftain of Mactan who refused to obey the king and whose forces killed Magellan in the Battle of Mactan.

April 27, 1521

The specific date provided in the timeline for the Battle of Mactan and the death of Ferdinand Magellan.

Duarte Barbosa

The man elected as the new captain of the fleet by Magellan's men after the Battle of Mactan.

Henry

Magellan's slave and interpreter who allegedly conspired with the King of Cebu to betray the remaining fleet members.

Juan Serrano

The commander of the ship Santiago who was abandoned and left behind in Cebu during the native massacre.

Santiago

The smallest of the five ships, carrying 32 crew members; it was the first ship lost, specifically due to a storm.

San Antonio

The largest ship in the fleet with 60 crew members; it was the second ship lost after a mutiny and its return to Spain.

Concepcion

The ship commanded by Gaspar de Quesada; it was the third ship lost after it was burned.

Trinidad

The flagship of the fleet, commanded by Magellan; it was the fourth ship lost after being attacked by a Portuguese ship and shipwrecked.

Victoria

The ship carrying Pigafetta that became the first to circumnavigate the world and the only ship to complete the full voyage.

Sebastian Elcano

The commander who took charge of the ship Victoria and finished the circumnavigation of the world.

Mercantilism

The dominant economic context of sixteenth-century Europe that measured wealth by the accumulation of bullions like gold and silver.

Historiography

The study of the history of history, focusing on understanding facts within the context of the historian.

Positivism

A historical perspective that requires empirical and observable evidence for knowledge to be considered true.

Post-Colonialism

An approach to history that examines events from the perspective of formerly colonized nations.