Who was the original leader of the first expedition to sail around the world?

Who was the original leader of the first expedition to sail around the world?

• A. Ferdinand Magellan
• B. Christopher Columbus
• C. Vasco da Gama
• D. Hernán Cortés

Answer: (A)

The main idea is identifying who conceived and led the historic voyage that aimed to sail around the world. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator sailing for Spain, organized and commanded the fleet that left in 1519. He guided the expedition through the Atlantic, around the southern tip of South America, and into the Pacific. Although Magellan was killed in the Philippines, the voyage was completed by his crew under Juan Sebastián Elcano, who returned to Spain in 1522. This makes Magellan the original leader of the first circumnavigation. The other explorers didn’t initiate or lead a full circumnavigation: Columbus opened new Atlantic routes but didn’t sail around the world; Da Gama reached India by rounding Africa but didn’t circumnavigate; Cortés led the conquest of Mexico rather than a global voyage.

The main idea is identifying who conceived and led the historic voyage that aimed to sail around the world. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator sailing for Spain, organized and commanded the fleet that left in 1519. He guided the expedition through the Atlantic, around the southern tip of South America, and into the Pacific. Although Magellan was killed in the Philippines, the voyage was completed by his crew under Juan Sebastián Elcano, who returned to Spain in 1522. This makes Magellan the original leader of the first circumnavigation. The other explorers didn’t initiate or lead a full circumnavigation: Columbus opened new Atlantic routes but didn’t sail around the world; Da Gama reached India by rounding Africa but didn’t circumnavigate; Cortés led the conquest of Mexico rather than a global voyage.