Primary Source Analysis Guide

1. Basics: Identify the basic features of the document.

a) What is the title of the document?
o The First Voyage Around the World
b) What kind of document is it?
o Journal
c) Who is the intended audience?
o The readers of his Journal
d) When was the document produced?
o From August 10, 1519, to 1522
e) Who produced the document?
o Antonio Pigafetta

2. Contextualize: 
a) What events/developments were swirling around the author at the time the
document was produced? (Think globally and locally, example: Age of
exploration/discovery/expansion)
o The genesis of colonization of Spanish towards Filipino People.
o Furthermore, the following are the places/animals they have
explored/discovered:
 Gatighan – bats that were larger than eagles

 Islands of Ladroni – Islands of thieves

 Island of Humunu (Homonhon) – Two springs with the cleanest

water were discovered in this location.

 Island of Zamal (Samar) –an uninhabited island where they took

refuge
  Mazaua – where they stayed for seven days

 Butuan and Calagan – where the first mass took place

 Ceylon, Bohol, Canighan, Baybai and Gatighan – the five islands
that they travelled through.
 Ceylon, Zubu Calaghann – the finest ports to get food
 Polo, Ticobon, and Pozon – this is where they wait for the king.
b) Describe the time from which the event happened (think locally, what was
happening in the Philippines?)
o The First Voyage Around the World happened in the pre-colonial period
of the 1500s where it puts light on Filipino culture, traditions, and beliefs -
and how it was influence by Spanish culture. Back then a group of Filipino
in a certain place is leaded by a Datu or a rajah - a noble title given to the
leader (which the author termed as “KING” in his document) Filipino in
that time were peace-loving, when Magellan said that "they are not
enemies, the datu/rajah termed as king in the book came over to captain-
general in person to offer food. (Page 42, Paragraph 10)
o Furthermore, the ff. is the date/time recorded in the document:

 August 10,1519- they departed from Spain for the expedition.

 March 16, 1521 – They finally arrived to the island of Samar.

 March 18 – they encounter the natives

 March 22 – the natives gave them gifts

 March 25 – they've venture to the ff. island: Cenalo,

Hiunangan, Ibusson, and Abrien

 March 28 – they arrived to the island of Zamatra/Sumatra.

 March 29 – The King of Zamatra talk with the captain general

 March 31 – the first mass
 April 7 – they set foot to the port of Zubu