How Did Spain Travel During The Age Of Exploration

The Age of Exploration was a time from the 15th to the 17th century when Europeans began to explore their world to find new trade routes with the East, and spread Christianity. Two of the rival superpowers during this time were Spain and Portugal. They competed to find new trade routes and resources. Ferdinand Magellan was born in 1480 in Portugal, and was raised in a noble family. He served King Manuel I by establishing Portugal’s influence in India, but they had a falling out so he went to Spain. Spanish King Charles I funded his expedition of finding a commercial route to the Spice Islands by sailing west. The expedition began in 1519, but Magellan did not survive it. However, Antonio Pigafetta, Magellan’s secretary, survived to spread their stories. Magellan’s route to the Pacific Ocean opened up massive territory for a new wave of explorers and countries to use. Magellan’s circumnavigation changed the perspective of
The Strait of Magellan and the Pacific Ocean allowed for nations like Spain and Portugal to expand their trade networks. Spain sold use of the Strait of Magellan to Portugal to raise money. Spain initially disliked the Philippines, but the city of Manila eventually became their largest trading center in East Asia. This is directly linked to Magellan because he was the first to discover the Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Magellan, therefore almost single-handedly giving these countries the means to expand. Magellan sailed into completely unknown waters encountering places like the Philippines, but he did not come close to seeing it all. He inspired others like Sir Francis Drake, an english explorer who recreated Magellan’s route many years later, to continue exploring the Pacific. His discoveries raised many questions about what lay to the west of the Americas, and this brought a new wave of explorers to the