Itwas thegoldenage of discovery andacross Europe, young men from every nation settheir heartson following in the wake of the great navigators Vasco de Gama andChristopherColombusto discover new lands, and new riches.Ferdinand Magellan was one such young man. Of Portuguese origin, he persuaded the Spanish king to fund his triptodiscover anewroutetothe Spice Islands of theeast,just as Colombushad. In 1519,heset sailwithfive ships, and followingmany hardships and even mutinies, found a way round the tip of South Americathrough the straitsthat would later carry his name. Althoughhewas killedlater during theexpedition,hebecamethefirst man to cross all the Earths meridians, and wasthe person who gavethe ocean he sailed into its name: the Pacific. FERDINANDMAGELLAN The Church says that the Earth is flat, but Iknowthat it is round. For Ihave seen the shadow ofthe earth on themoon and Ihave more faith in theShadow than in theChurch. Quote attributed to FerdinandMagellan