AP World History Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Ferdinand Magellan is credited with being the first explorer to circumnavigate the globe, despite his death in the Philippines during the expedition. His journey, which began in 1519, was a monumental achievement in the Age of Exploration, demonstrating the vast scale of the Earth and providing valuable information about global geography. Magellan's fleet successfully navigated different seas and established that it was indeed possible to travel around the world by sea.

He sought a westward route to the Spice Islands, embarking from Spain and leading his ships across the Atlantic Ocean, through the strait that now bears his name, into the Pacific Ocean, and finally to Asia. Although he did not complete the journey himself, as he was killed in a conflict with local tribes in 1521, his expedition ultimately continued under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, who successfully returned to Spain in 1522, proving that the voyage around the world could be completed.

This monumental expedition had profound implications for global trade, navigation, and European understanding of global geography, establishing Magellan's legacy as a pivotal figure in maritime history.