A Tale of Globalization

Today, I posted this remark in the course forum:

For those who don't know Gonzalo de Vigo, I would like to introduce you his story briefly. He had been part of the expedition to the Pacific Ocean alongside Magallanes (on 10 August 1519). Then, during the return trip there were many storms and problems, so, as a result, appeared scurvy and other serious diseases. However, the ships arrived to The Marianas (Islas de los Ladrones), where some men were saved. One of them was Gonzalo, who spent four years living there with the natives, with whom he took the opportunity to learn their language and other customs. In the end, I think he was the only european alive. Later, when another expedition arrived to the zone in 1526, he was found in good condition and decided to work as a translator in order to help the spanish conquerors. The full story is more complex, I know, but I hope you like this sort of little resume anyway.

Source of information: Historia General y Natural de las Indias ... (Spanish)

Orbis typus universalis iuxta hydrographorum traditionem (Martin Waldseemüller, 1513)

  
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