The first recorded journey around the globe was completed by the Spanish explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. He set sail from Spain in 1519 with a fleet of five ships, and after several years of travel, one of his ships, the Victoria, completed the journey and returned to Spain in 1522, with a crew of 18 men, being the first to circumnavigate the globe.
Magellan’s expedition was not an easy one, as the crew had to face many challenges such as storms, mutinies, and hostile encounters with local people. Additionally, Magellan himself died in the Philippines, during a battle with the local people. However, the expedition was a major achievement and opened the way for further exploration and trade around the world.
It’s worth noting that, technically, only 18 of the original crew of about 270 men completed the entire journey, but it is still considered as the first circumnavigation of the globe.
In the other hand, there is an evidence to suggest that a Malay man, Panglima Awang, also known as Panglima Hitam, circumnavigated the globe several decades before the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan. However, there is limited historical documentation and evidence about his journey, and the details of his voyage are not widely known or accepted by historians.
The Malay Annals, a historical text from the 15th century, describes Panglima Awang’s voyage as a diplomatic mission to establish trade relations with various foreign countries. According to the text, Panglima Awang, also known as Panglima Hitam, set sail from the Malay Peninsula in the 14th century and visited several countries including China, Africa, and Arabia before returning home.
It’s worth noting that the Malay Annals is a primary source and some historians consider it as legend or myth, therefore the veracity of Panglima Awang’s voyage around the globe is still debated among historians.