Final answer:
The number of Portuguese sailors on Magellan's ships was limited due to political and nationalistic reasons. Portugal did not financially support Magellan's expedition, so he sought support from Spain with the condition that most of the crew members be Spanish.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of Portuguese sailors on Magellan's ships was limited due to political and nationalistic reasons. Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, had fallen out of favor with the Portuguese king, and as a result, Portugal did not want to support his expedition. Therefore, Magellan had to seek support from Spain, and the Spanish monarch agreed to finance his expedition with the condition that the majority of the crew members be Spanish. Only a few Portuguese sailors were allowed on the ships to maintain goodwill with Portugal.
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