Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 2: The conquistadors, 1513–c1528 - 1 The start of an empire: The…
Full specification wording
Option P1: Key topic 2: The conquistadors, 1513–c1528 - 1 The start of an empire: The voyage of Magellan and Spanish claim to the Philippines.
Ferdinand Magellan's 1519-1522 expedition aimed to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands (Moluccas).
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Ferdinand Magellan's 1519-1522 expedition aimed to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands (Moluccas). Navigating the treacherous Strait of Magellan, the fleet crossed the Pacific Ocean, suffering scurvy and starvation. In 1521, Magellan reached the Philippines, claiming the archipelago for Spain. He was killed at the Battle of Mactan by forces led by the local chieftain Lapulapu. Juan Sebastián Elcano subsequently completed the circumnavigation in the Victoria. The voyage proved the globe could be circumnavigated, established a Spanish presence in the Pacific, and laid the foundation for the eventual colonisation of the Philippines, intensifying imperial rivalry with Portugal.
What earns the marks
- Magellan's primary objective was to discover a western route to the lucrative Spice Islands.
- The expedition successfully navigated the Strait of Magellan and made the first recorded European crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
- Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521 but was killed shortly after at the Battle of Mactan.
- Juan Sebastián Elcano took command and completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, returning to Spain in 1522.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Stating that Magellan completed the circumnavigation.
Put it right: He died in the Philippines, and Elcano finished the voyage.
Confusing the Philippines with the Spice Islands.
Put it right: Magellan reached the Philippines, but the ultimate goal was the Moluccas.
Ignoring the context of the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Put it right: The voyage was an attempt to prove the Spice Islands fell within the Spanish hemisphere.
Exam tips
- Emphasise the geographical significance of the voyage in proving the true size of the Earth and the vastness of the Pacific.
- Use the Battle of Mactan to illustrate that Spanish technological superiority did not guarantee victory against indigenous resistance.
- Connect the Spanish claim to the Philippines to the broader theme of imperial rivalry between Spain and Portugal.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P1: Key topic 2: The conquistadors, 1513–c1528 - 1 The start of an empire: The voyage of Magellan and Spanish claim to the Philippines. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the main goal of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition when it departed Spain in 1519?
Listen
Ferdinand Magellan's 1519-1522 expedition aimed to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands (Moluccas). Navigating the treacherous Strait of Magellan, the fleet crossed the Pacific Ocean, suffering scurvy and starvation. In 1521, Magellan reached the Philippines, claiming the archipelago for Spain. He was killed at the Battle of Mactan by forces led by the local chieftain Lapulapu. Juan Sebastián Elcano subsequently completed the circumnavigation in the Victoria. The voyage proved the globe could be circumnavigated, established a Spanish presence in the Pacific, and laid the foundation for the eventual colonisation of the Philippines, intensifying imperial rivalry with Portugal. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Magellan's primary objective was to discover a western route to the lucrative Spice Islands. The expedition successfully navigated the Strait of Magellan and made the first recorded European crossing of the Pacific Ocean. Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521 but was killed shortly after at the Battle of Mactan. Juan Sebastián Elcano took command and completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, returning to Spain in 1522. Exam tip: Emphasise the geographical significance of the voyage in proving the true size of the Earth and the vastness of the Pacific.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Magellan's expedition set out to find a western route to the Spice Islands
- 2. Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the globe
- 3. Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Global exploration
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Imperial rivalry
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Indigenous conflict
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Navigational challenges
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Global exploration
- Magellan's expedition aimed to find a western sea route to the Spice Islands and proved the globe could be circumnavigated.
- Imperial rivalry
- The voyage intensified rivalry between Spain and Portugal, with the Spanish claim to the Philippines part of this contest.
- Indigenous conflict
- Magellan was killed at the Battle of Mactan by forces led by the local chieftain Lapulapu.
- Navigational challenges
- The fleet navigated the treacherous Strait of Magellan and crossed the Pacific Ocean, suffering scurvy and starvation.
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