The ship's pharmacy of the Magellan-Elcano expedition

It is probably one of the most famous seafaring stories of all time: the first circumnavigation of the world under Ferdinand Magellan (c. 1480–1521) and Juan Sebastián Elcano (1486/87–1526), which even cost the former and most of the crew their lives. On September 20, 1519, the five participating ships set sail from Spain to find a western route to the Spice Islands on behalf of the Spanish crown. Of course, on such a long and arduous voyage, a pharmacy on board was essential. Although four of the five ships did not make it back to Spain, the original three-page inventory of the remedies carried on board, which were used to treat the crew in cases of illness and injury, has surprisingly been preserved. It even provides information about the supplier of the medicines: this was Juan Bernal, a pharmacist with remarkable professional and economic connections in 16th century Seville.