Final answer:
Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to circumnavigate the earth, starting in 1519, though he did not survive the voyage. Pedro Cabral was the first explorer to reach and claim Brazil for Portugal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Portuguese expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the earth was led by Ferdinand Magellan. Although Magellan died during the voyage, his fleet continued and completed the historic journey. In the context of Brazil, it was Pedro Cabral who reached the country and claimed it for the throne of Portugal, not Columbus, Magellan, or Cartier. Contrastingly, Christopher Columbus went to his grave believing he had reached Asia via his voyages, unaware that he had encountered a 'New World'.
The first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth was led by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Despite Magellan's death during the voyage, his fleet, under the leadership of Juan Sebastián Elcano, successfully completed the historic journey, marking a significant milestone in maritime exploration.
In the context of Brazil, it was Pedro Álvares Cabral, another Portuguese explorer, who reached the shores of the country in 1500 and claimed it for the throne of Portugal. This event was distinct from the explorations of Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, and Jacques Cartier. Notably, Columbus, the Genoan explorer, died believing he had reached Asia via his voyages, unaware that he had encountered a 'New World,' a revelation that came later, solidifying his place in history as the explorer who opened the door to the Americas.