Ferdinand Magellan reaches Philippines

Here is one more thing to credit Aristotle with – he went on record suggesting the earth was round. The earth is also pretty large, however, and mostly water, and many of the explorers post-Aristotle who tried to prove him right by circumnavigating the globe failed for one reason or another. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portugese explorer who sailed for Spain, was the first to succeed.

On this day, March 16, in 1521, after more than six months at sea, Magellan and his crew land on the Philippine islands. They discovered that the little boy who they took just prior to the start of their voyage, could understand the native tongue and realized then they had completed a full circle around the planet.

Magellan had nothing left to prove, and could have turned back to Spain right away. But a challenge from one of the native chiefs compelled him to accept a duel. During it, Magellan was wounded by a poison arrow and died soon after. His men brought back word of his fate and his accomplishments.