Joshua+and+Lizzie

Joshua and Lizzie

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was born in Portugal (1480?-1521). He was a sea captain that led the first expedition around the world. Sadly, he didn't live to see land. At the age of ten, his parents died. Since his parents were of nobility, he became a Page to Queen Leonor when he was twelve. When he was older, he joined a military expedition to Morocco. He suffered an injury that would make him limp for the rest of his life. Once he returned, he studied astronomy and navigation for about two years in Porto. While he was there, he met Rue Faleiro, who strongly influenced his ideas. Magellan thought he could reach the Spice Islands by sailing around the southern tip of South America, instead of taking the eastern route. Magellan asked King Manuel I of Portugal to sponsor him, but he didn't. So he went to King Charles I of Spain, and they convinced him to sponsor their journey. In 1519, they set sail on what they thought would bring him to the Spice Islands, but brought them around the world!! But sadly, in 1521, Magellan was killed in battle.

Hernan Cortez Hernan Cortez was a Spanish adventurer (1485-1547) who overthrew the Aztec Empire.

In 1519, Cortez set sail from Cuba with eleven ships and about five hundred men. When he got to Mexico, he conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521 and claimed the land for Spain. He also killed Montazuma, a brutal Aztec Emperor.

Cortez died in Spain, 1547.