The exploration trip set out by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 and culminated by Juan Sebastián Elcano three years later intended to find a western sea route to reach the Spice islands. After a long and dangerous journey, their travel showed that the Earth could be circumnavigated and that it was much larger than anyone had imagined before. To be aware of the consequences of their discoveries it is necessary to understand the social, political and economic context of this voyage.  

At the beginning of the 16th Century, Europe had great challenges to face, but also many conflicts and contradictions to solve. The Renaissance brought a new conception of the role of humanity in the world, which was reinforced by new geographical discoveries. At the same time, that intellectual openness threatened the basic principles on which the feudal society had being built for centuries. Economics also played a crucial role. Since the end of the Middle Ages commercial expansion inside Europe had been decisive to promote and finance geographical explorations such as that of Magellan. Many were attracted by gold and silver, but many others tried to open new trade routes and reach Asian markets sailing West. The new European states competed with each other to achieve that same goal. The Spanish and Portuguese monarchies participated very actively of this discovery fever. As a result, they not only became the gateway to introduce new resources, goods and raw materials in the old continent, but also exported their own language, culture, technology and political institutions to other parts of the world.