Ferdinand Magellan (Markus Klauk) in his captain’s cabin looking over the maps. Photo credit: ZDF/Cristina Matei
Secrets of the Dead: Magellan’s Crossing
Premieres Wednesday, October 20 at 10 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), pbs.org/secrets and the PBS Video app
Five hundred years ago, Portuguese captain Ferdinand Magellan and his crew set sail to gain control of the global spice trade. What resulted was the first circumnavigation of the earth, laying the groundwork for colonization and globalization still felt today. This new episode demonstrates humanity’s quest to understand the true dimensions of the planet while sailing to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.