GNED 04 MODULE 1-LESSON 2

MODULE 1
PERSPECTIVES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY: ON CONTENT AND CONTEXT
LESSON 2
MAGELLAN’S VOYAGE by ANTONIO PIGAFETTA
Expected outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, students are expected
1. To understand the value of determining not just the content of a historical
event but equally its context.
2. To articulate significant implications and perspectives related to one of the
most significant event in Philippine history- the beginning of the Spanish
colonial period.
3. Explain the importance of Pigafetta’s account on the study of Philippine
history.
Introduction:
As have been seen in the presentation of theories and approaches in the study of
history, varied perspectives may then be brought up and used by historians
resulting to multiple and selective assumptions of what most learners and readers
take in as ‘truths of the past’. Primary sources are seen to provide a kind of catalyst
or a medium upon which these various historical perspectives may be consolidated
to provide for a more objective study of past events. Primary sources however
maybe considered debatable as opinions and conjectures can still be applied on
them. This is so because the truths projected by primary sources do not exist in a
vacuum nor produced in a blank slate. Sources assumed to be factual can be
assumed as products of the time, of the people, and even the personal biases of
the writer of such piece of history. Anyone therefore who intends to seriously study
and appreciate the facts of the past must learn how to criticize and assess the
primary source’s content and context. Historians ideally have to situate the
documents or materials in the period of its production, or in the background of its
authors.

I. Content and context analysis of Pigafetta’s account

A. Content
One of the most significant events in the Philippines’ recorded past is the voyage
and subsequent arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century as accounted by Antonio
Pigafetta. While most accounts center on Ferdinand Magellan’s leadership of an
expedition sponsored by the Spanish Royalty and sanctioned by the Pope, four
important contents of such accounts stand out:
1. His fleet’s landing on March 17, 1521 up to his death on April 27,1521 in the
hands of Lapu lapu’s men;
2. the introduction of Christianity and conversion of natives and several leaders;
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3. insights on the character of our land, its rich resources and its people in the
precolonial period; and
4.conflicts and complications in the idea of tribute, friendship, alliance.
Pigafetta’s rich and detailed chronicles have been widely cited by historians and
have contributed immensely to European historiography as it preserved and
popularized the achievements of Magellan.
B. Relevance
If Pigafetta did not survive the journey, the world specially the Filipinos would have
very little knowledge of Magellan’s numerous contributions in the fields of
geography, navigation, history, and other allied areas.
First credit must be given to Magellan’s expedition for proving that the earth is not
flat but an oblate sphere. This feat destroyed the myth that there is a boiling water
at the Equator.
Secondly, Magellan and his men completed what is claimed as the first
circumnavigation (‘circum’ to move around) of the world.
Thirdly, they confirmed that the Portuguese route is not the only way to the Spice
Islands and that there is a route to the east by sailing west.
Fourthly, they brought to the attention of the Europeans that on the other side of
the American continent exists a large body of water which Magellan himself named
as Pacific Ocean (Mar Pacifico). All these discoveries changed the European
perspective and mapping of the world which further resulted to the inclusion of
new territories in their world view.
The account of Pigafetta also enriched Philippine historiography because of the
following:
1. It contains important details on the conditions of the Visayan Islands in the
16th century
2. It identified the religious, social, and cultural practices
3. It became the basis for other writers in the accounting of the beginnings of
Christianity.
4. It recorded the reactions and actions of the early natives when they met the
Spaniards.
5. It provides a fertile source of data in valuing and even devaluing Lapu-lapu
as a national hero.

C. Context
Despite being the most cited documents by historians, it may be subjected to
scrutiny for biases and subjective assumptions by Pigafetta using the following
considerations:
a.)Spanish and Christian mission- His accounts of Magellan’s travel needed to
provide a kind of motivation to the Spanish Royalty to justify its failed expedition
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and convince both the King and the Pope to continue its mission to conquer and
Christianize territories beyond the known world.
b.) European perspectives- over-detailed and often times exaggerated descriptions
of the physical features and actions of the natives, objects, places, and as well as
reactions of those he encountered (i.e Casi casi, tribute, killing of Magellan) are
laced with European comparative values, preferences, and prejudice.
Other Accounts
It must be noted nevertheless that Pigafetta’s recording of the events relative to
Magellan’s voyage, arrival, death, and return to Spain of what remained with his
original fleet- is not the only surviving account. Other known primary historical
bases include:
1.Maximilianus Transylvanus’ De Moluccis Insulis- written and released a year
after the arrival of the Victoria (the last ship that made it back to Spain). Contents
were mostly similar to that of Pigafetta and less credible as it was written not by an
eye witness and were culled from less detailed interviews from survivors aboard
the Victoria.
2.Francisco Albo’s Journal- Victoria’s pilot recording of the location of the
expedition on certain dates.
3. Peter Martyr d’ Anghiera’s account of Spanish Exploration of the New World-
written between 1511-1530 which was divided into “decades”. It indicated the fifth
decade as 1523 where it recounted the conquest of Mexico and the
circumnavigation of the world by Magellan.

II. On Pigafetta’s background

Antonio Pigafetta was born around 1490 in Venice Italy.
He is said to have studied astronomy, geography, and
cartography and worked during his younger years in the
ships owned by the Knights of Rhodes. Biographers are
unanimous in describing him as well-educated, affluent
and possessed a keen interest in exploring the world
around him. It was believed that he developed a strong
interest in the lucrative venture of spice trade when he
joined the delegation of Monsignor Francesco Chieregati
when the later was assigned as Papal Nuncio to Spain in
1519 and consequently learned about Magellan’s plans
of an expedition. He was accepted to be part of the expedition as sobresalientes (
supernumenaries ), or men coming from rich families with the love for adventure
and intent to advance service to the military. Pigafetta survived all the hardships
and catastrophes experienced during the three-year expedition including being
wounded in the battle of Mactan while keenly recording all about the events,
people, and places. He was among the 18 survivors on board the Victoria who made
it back to Seville, Spain.
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He gave his written account of his account of Magellan’s expedition to the King
Carlos V of Spain before returning to his hometown in Vicenza. Little has been
known of what happened to him then after except on some accounts that he joined
the Knights of St John in its battle against the Turks and said to have died in 1534.
III. About the book
After giving his personal handwritten account of Magellan’s expedition to King
Carlos and upon returning to Italy, his associates adviced him to publish this
accounts. He then presented his manuscript to Pope Clement VII, Louis of Savoy
(mother of King Francis I of France, and other luminaries with the hope of getting
the necessary amount to fund its publication. Unfortunately, he failed to get the
support he needed mainly due to the fact the interest on Magellan’s expedition
had died down. During that time, the accounts of Maximilianus Transylvanus and
Peter Martyr were already published which resulted to lesser interest to Pigafetta’s
account. In 1536, Pigafetta’s manuscript was published in a condensed version by
Jacques Fabre.
It must be noted however that among the four known primary sources of
Magellan’s expedition, Pigafetta’s chronicle is the longest and most comprehensive
having recounted the individual fates of the five ships (Trinidad, San Antonio,
Concepcion, Santiago, and Victoria), including details of how they survived
unforeseen difficulties such as food shortages, diseases, crew’s animosity and
distrust to Magellan leadership, and the hostile attitude of natives they met along
the expedition. His account is bolstered by its inclusion of maps, glossaries of native
words, and geographic information and descriptions of flora and fauna of the
places they went to.
The original manuscript of Pigafetta’s chronicle did not
survive time. For the record, what has been handed down
to our present time are copies of his manuscripts that
were never printed during his time. At least five versions
have been released: Three(3) in French and are kept in
the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, fourth copy was
written in mixed Italian, Spanish, and Venetian languages
and can be found in the Ambrosian library in Milan. The
fifth version in English was made by James Alexander
Robertson which eventually appeared in The Philippine
Islands opus (Volume 33) as well as in separate editions.

IV. Excerpts from the book. (see attached jpeg file of English translation of
Pigafetta’s account of Magellan’s voyage.)

Summary:
Antonio Pigafetta’s chronicle account of Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage in the early
16th century is a very significant primary source in the learning and further study of
many momentous events in the writing of early Philippine history. The arrival of
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the Europeans with their religion and culture in Philippine shores, the knowledge
of geography, navigation, truths of science, recording of pre-colonial Philippine
culture and politics, and pertinent perspectives in civilizations would not have
become clear and possible if not for his detailed writing of practically all the events,
experiences, and encounters with various individuals. Similarly, the world has been
assisted in undertaking historiography through all the primary information
contained in his work.
The contents of such primary source however should likewise be treated with
analytical caution as it is may be assumed that biases and subjective nuances are
inherent in its context. Not to undermine the value of Pigafetta’s accounts, it
maybe argued that his work was motivated and influenced by the Spanish and
Christian mission to conquer and Christianize territories beyond the known world
which may have further laced his chronicle with European comparative values,
preferences, and prejudice.

Exercise:
1.Summative: Who is Antonio Pigafetta and why must the context of his work be
analyzed further?
2. Formative: Based on the primary text given to you, cite at least two events or
instances which you feel are laced with Pigafetta’s biases and distinct European
prejudice.

References:
Agoncillo T.(2012). History of the Filipino People. Quezon City C & E Publishing ,Inc.
Torres JV.(2018). BATIS Sources in Philippine History.C & E Publishing ,Inc.
Zaide, G (1990).Documentary Sources in Philippine History. Vol 1-10 Quezon City National
Bookstore

Prepared by:

MANUEL A. DE GUZMAN
Assistant Professor 1

Approved by:

MAT M NUESTRO
Director, Curriculum and Instruction