Ferdinand Magellan is credited with the first circumnavigation of the globe. His expedition began in 1519 with five ships and aimed to find a westward route to the Spice Islands. Magellan himself did not survive the entire journey; he was killed in the Philippines in 1521. However, his fleet continued under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, ultimately returning to Spain in 1522 with one remaining ship, the Victoria. This voyage provided significant insights into global geography, demonstrating that the Earth was round and revealing vast Oceanic expanses, fundamentally altering European perceptions of the world.