Geographical Exploration by the Spaniards

In the latter part of the eighteenth century the Spaniards explored routes north of Luzon and south of Mindanao as alternatives to the San Bernardino Strait route. Although Spanish contacts with Micronesia began with Magellan in 1511 on Guam, and Espinosa who sighted Sonsorol in 1522, the Spaniards did not occupy, conquer, and convert the Ladrones until 1668 to 1698. By the time of Magellan, navigators were well aware of magnetic declination, and the various Spanish expeditions were instructed to make special observations on this matter. An impressive list of "firsts" must be credited to the Spaniards in the Pacific. The Spaniards discovered all of the islands in the Marianas, and they also were the first Europeans to visit the Gilberts, the Marshalls, and the Carolines—which constitute Micronesia. The sailing charts used by the Spanish navigators were prepared by cartographers in the Casa de Contratacion in Sevilla, or by mapmakers under contract to the Casa de Contratacion

Geography · Archaeology and Natural History · Geology · History

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