Early Circumnavigation Attempts

[Dan G.]

I just read a most fascinating book about the earliest attempts to circumnavigate the globe. The book is titled “Round About The Earth- Circumnavigation from Magellan to Orbit” by Joyce E. Chaplin. I had no idea of the mortality rate on men and ships when long voyages were attempted. The attached table will give you an idea how dangerous it was.

 

Whether you were forced into service or volunteered for such a voyage, an attempt to sail around the globe was virtually a death sentence until the late 1700’s.

Circumnavigation Table PDF.pdf