Ferdinand Magellan (1480 – 1521), born in Portugal and killed in Cebu, Philippines, was a Portuguese seafarer and navigator who worked most of his life for Castille, the Spanish throne. In 1520-1521, Magellan commanded an expedition of five ships whose mission was to find a passage around the American continent to the Spice Islands (Moluku, Indonesia).
Ferdinand Magellan Read Post »
The rise of the Dutch maritime commercial activities in the Pacific and Asia in the early 17th century is based on a series of events between the independent Netherlands merchant towns and King Philip II of Spain. The resistance of the Netherlands proved the undoing of Spanish dreams of a world empire.
Early European observations of the CHamorus people represent a significant source of ethnographical and historical information. Many comments made by visitors to the Marianas focus on visible realities such as nudity, body ornaments, structures and watercraft.
Early European Observations of CHamorus Read Post »
The next recorded visitor to the Mariana Islands after explorer Ferdinand Magellan, was British adventurer Thomas Cavendish in 1588 aboard The Desire. He traded briefly, and as he left he ordered his men to open fire from the rear of the ship to discourage the islanders from following.
Adventurer: Thomas Cavendish Read Post »
In 1597 the Dutch began raiding into the Pacific, hoping that by attacking the Spanish colonies and ships they could force the Spanish to grant them independence. In 1598 the Dutch launched an expedition to the Pacific under Admiral Oliver van Noort, who was acclaimed a hero for striking at the Spanish and completing the fourth expedition (after Magellan, Hawkins, and Cavendish) to circumnavigate the globe.
Adventurer: Oliver van Noort Read Post »
In the Pacific, no other group of people was more reviled than the beachcomber. Considered degenerate characters, they have been charged with infecting islanders with whom they lived with a moral disease deemed more destructive than smallpox or influenza.
Adventurers: Beachcombers Read Post »
Puntan and Fu’una are the Chamorro/CHamoru creation gods. Puntan, a male, and Fu’una, a female, are brother and sister. The account of their creation of the world constitutes one of the most important oral histories of the CHamoru people.
Folktale: Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation Read Post »
Regardless of where islands are situated throughout the vast Pacific, the physical environment—varying wind speed and direction, ocean currents, the visibility of stars, availability of birds, phosphorescence, seaweed, and other indicators of land—has played a central role in the ability of early voyagers to reach and settle thousands of islands in Oceania.
Proa and Navigation Read Post »
The origin of Guam’s indigenous people has been a matter of considerable speculation for more than a century. Scholars have developed theories about CHamoru origins based on various evidence: physical (pottery shards, DNA, etc.), ocean movement and language.
Origin of Guam’s Indigenous People Read Post »
Permission to use from Dipåttamenton i Kaohao Guinahan CHamoru. Leblon Numiru, Government of Guam. Department of Education, Hagåtña, Guam.
