Álvaro de Saavedra was a Spanish explorer who is best known for his exploration of the Pacific Ocean in the early 16th century. He was born in 1499 in the city of Seville, Spain, and was the son of a wealthy merchant. He was educated in the arts and sciences, and was an avid reader of books on geography and navigation.
At the age of twenty-one, Álvaro de Saavedra was appointed by the Spanish Crown to lead an expedition to explore the Pacific Ocean. He was given three ships, the San Lesmes, the San Pedro, and the San Juan, and a crew of over one hundred men. The expedition set sail from the port of Seville in 1525, and headed south along the coast of Africa. After a brief stop in the Canary Islands, the expedition continued westward, eventually reaching the Caribbean Sea.
The expedition then sailed northward, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico. From there, they sailed westward, eventually reaching the coast of Central America. After a brief stop in Panama, the expedition continued westward, eventually reaching the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific. From there, they sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of Guam in the Marianas Islands.
The expedition then sailed eastward, eventually reaching the Philippines. After a brief stop in the Philippines, the expedition continued eastward, eventually reaching the Moluccas Islands. From there, they sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of Timor. After a brief stop in Timor, the expedition continued eastward, eventually reaching the island of Java.
From Java, the expedition sailed northward, eventually reaching the island of Borneo. After a brief stop in Borneo, the expedition continued northward, eventually reaching the island of Mindanao. From there, they sailed eastward, eventually reaching the island of Celebes. After a brief stop in Celebes, the expedition continued eastward, eventually reaching the island of Halmahera.
From Halmahera, the expedition sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of New Guinea. After a brief stop in New Guinea, the expedition continued southward, eventually reaching the island of Australia. After a brief stop in Australia, the expedition continued southward, eventually reaching the island of New Zealand.
The expedition then sailed westward, eventually reaching the island of Guam. From there, they sailed northward, eventually reaching the island of Japan. After a brief stop in Japan, the expedition continued northward, eventually reaching the island of Sakhalin. From there, they sailed eastward, eventually reaching the mainland of Asia.
The expedition then sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of Borneo. After a brief stop in Borneo, the expedition continued southward, eventually reaching the island of Java. From there, they sailed eastward, eventually reaching the island of Timor. After a brief stop in Timor, the expedition continued eastward, eventually reaching the island of Flores.
From Flores, the expedition sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of New Guinea. After a brief stop in New Guinea, the expedition continued southward, eventually reaching the island of Australia. After a brief stop in Australia, the expedition continued southward, eventually reaching the island of New Zealand.
The expedition then sailed westward, eventually reaching the island of Guam. From there, they sailed northward, eventually reaching the island of Japan. After a brief stop in Japan, the expedition continued northward, eventually reaching the mainland of Asia.
The expedition then sailed eastward, eventually reaching the island of Celebes. After a brief stop in Celebes, the expedition continued eastward, eventually reaching the island of Halmahera. From there, they sailed southward, eventually reaching the island of New Guinea. After a brief stop