what does Pigafetta's account tell us about the conditions of the Visayan Islands in the 16th century?
Answers
Answer:
According to Pigafetta, gold is abundant and iron is scarce
Men and women enjoyed equality to some extent
They have clothing for formal occasions and for day-to-day labour
They had never seen a ship as fast as the Europeans’
They measure the worth of their trade through balances
They're used to diseases such as buboes
They have no sovereign but only ruled by princes, and chiefs for every barangay state
No proper city planning
Houses are built on high logs (which is still found on the countryside today)
Farming is an occupation worth less than fishing
They do not eat beef (literally)
It wasn't mention that they were literate in 1521 and that they had never seen European writing (possibly they knew about Kavi, Han characters and Devanagari script but they hadn't the ability to develop an effective writing system)
Explanation:
Pigafetta does offer insight into some Visayan customs such as their cuisine, the process of fermenting palm and coconut wine, and native attire. ... Rather Pigafetta provides us with unique insights into how European explorers thought of the new peoples and cultures they encountered.