Ferdinand Magellan vs Ibn Battuta

How do Ferdinand Magellan and Ibn Battuta compare? Here is a side-by-side look at their lives, achievements and historical impact.

Ferdinand Magellan Ibn Battuta
Lifespan 1480 – 1521 1304 – 1369
Born Northern Portugal Tangier, Morocco
Occupation Explorer, Navigator Explorer, Traveller, Scholar
Known for First circumnavigation of the globe, Strait of Magellan, Crossing the Pacific Ocean, Spanish expedition of 1519 The Rihla, Travels across the Islamic world, Journey to China
Fields
Influence score 86/100 78/100

Ferdinand Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who, in the service of Spain, led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, proving the world could be sailed around even though he died midway through the voyage.

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Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar and traveller of the 14th century who journeyed some 75,000 miles across Africa, the Middle East, India, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and China — one of the greatest travellers of the pre-modern world.

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