Pigafetta Lecture.pptx history and readings

Pigafetta Lecture.pptx history and readings

1. Analysis of Primary Sources

2. Antonio Pigafetta’s First Voyage Around the World 3

3. Antonio Pigafetta ( 1480-1531 ) Italian traveler and chronicler travelled with the Portuguese explorer Magellan on his voyage by the order of king of Spain – King Charles I kept a journal to document their travel around the world Their expedition is considered to be the first to circumnavigate the Earth

4. The First Voyage Around the World

5. The Book Pigafetta’s work instantly became a classic that prominent literary men in the West like William Shakespeare referred to the book in their interpretation of the new world. 5

6. Introduction Pigafetta’s account is one of the most important primary sources in the study of the pre-colonial Philippines. His account was also a major reference to the events leading to Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his encounter with local leaders, his death in the hands of Lapulapu’s forces in the Battle of Mactan , and in the departure of what was left of Magellan’s fleet from the islands.

7. Introduction Examining the document reveals several insights not just in the character of the Philippines during the pre-colonial period, but also on how the fresh eyes of the Europeans regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain, environment, people and culture.

8. Introduction Locating Pigafetta’s account in the context of its writing warrants a familiarity on the dominant frame of mind in the age of exploration, which pervaded Europe in the 15 th and 16 th century. Students of history need to realize that primary sources used in the subsequent written histories depart from certain perspectives.

9. Introduction Hence, Pigafetta’s account was also written from the perspective of Pigafetta himself and was a product of the context of its production. The book was published in 1550 long after Pigafetta’s return to Italy and death.

10. Focus of Lecture Discussion on some of the chronicles of Pigafetta as he wrote his firsthand observation and general impression of the Far East including their experiences in the Visayas . In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what he called the Ladrones Islands or the ‘Islands of the Thieves’.

11. The Ladrones Islands presently known as the Marianas Islands. These islands are located south-southeast of Japan, west southwest of Hawaii, north of New Guinea and east of the Philippines. Here, he met two kings – the first king was Raia Siagu and the other king was Raia Calambu , king of Zuluan and Limasawa ( Butuan and Limasawa ).

12. The First Mass One day, Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore. The two kings heard of this plan and sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass. After the Mass, Magellan ordered that the cross be brought with nails and crown in place.

13. The First Mass The king concurred and allowed for the cross to be planted. This Mass would go down in the history as the first Mass in the Philippines, and the cross would be the famed Magellan’s Cross still preserved at present day.

14. The Island of Cebu Magellan also reached the island of Cebu where he met and, as a sign of friendship, made a blood compact with Raja Humabon , the king of Cebu.

15. The Island of Mactan A principal man from the island of Matan ( Mactan ) by the name of Zula went to see Magellan and asked him to fight the chief named Silapulapu ( Lapulapu ). Magellan agreed and expressed to go to Mactan himself and to fight the said chief. Outnumbered, 49 to 1500, Magellan died in that battle.

16. Importance of Pigafetta’s Accounts The chronicle of Pigafetta was one of the most cited documents by historians who wished to study the pre-colonial Philippines. Also, being the earliest detailed documentation, it was believed that Pigafetta’s writings account for the ‘purest’ pre-colonial society.

17. Importance of Pigafetta’s Accounts The knowledge of geography expanded and hitherto unknown islands were discovered. Their expedition discredited the medieval theory that the ‘earth is flat’.

18. Analysis of Pigafetta’s Work There needs to have a more nuanced reading of the source within a contextual backdrop. a student of History should recognize certain biases accompanying the author and his identity, loyalties and the circumstances that he was in and how it affected the text that he produced.

19. Analysis of Pigafetta’s Work It should be noted that Pigafetta’s context was coming from a time during the 16 th century European perspective. It should be understood that such observations were rooted from the context of Pigafetta and of his era.

20. Analysis of Pigafetta’s Work These contexts should be used and understood in order to have a more qualified reading of Pigafetta’s account.

21. Thank you! Any questions? 40

22. Tell us what you think Write a question you want to ask you things you want to know as we go on with our history subject. Inside the bubble quotes, you write the reason why you want to know about it.