The famous explorer known for circumnavigating the globe in the early 16th century is Ferdinand Magellan. He led the first expedition to sail around the world, departing from Spain in 1519 in search of a westward route to the Spice Islands. Though Magellan himself did not complete the journey—dying in the Philippines in 1521—his fleet, under the command of Juan Sebastián Elcano, successfully returned to Spain in 1522. This expedition provided valuable insights into global geography, proving that the Earth could be circumnavigated by sea and establishing essential trade routes that would shape global commerce in the ensuing centuries.