In this episode of Along the Amazon River, I explore the controversial journey of Francisco de Orellana, the first European to navigate the full length of the Amazon River.

Originally part of Gonzalo Pizarro’s expedition, Orellana’s voyage took an unexpected turn, leading him deep into uncharted territories. Along the way, he and his men encountered indigenous communities, fought fierce resistance, and started the legend of the Amazon women.

Join me as I explore the challenges and results of his expedition. I'll also discuss how this expedition affected how Europeans viewed the Amazon.

Host: Giovanni Minicucci

Voice: George Gabriel

Sources:

Cabrero, Ferran. “Omaguas, Primer Contacto. Una Cultura Amazónica Elusiva y El Misterio de La Aparia Menor.” Mundo Amazónico, vol. 11, no. 2, July 2020, pp. 255–75. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.proxy.uchicago.edu/10.15446/ma.v11n2.83036.Foundation, Delanceyplace.com | Governor’s Woods. “Orellana versus the Amazons -- 5/18/21.” Delanceyplace, www.delanceyplace.com/view-archives.php?4372. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025. Itúrburu, Fernando. “La Figura Del Conquistador: Un Estudio de La Imagen de Francisco de Orellana.” Guaraguao, vol. 1, no. 1, 1996, pp. 7–24. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25595952. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Jacobs,Frank. “Amazonia or Bust!” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 June 2012, archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/amazonia-or-bust/.Levy, Buddy. River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana's Legendary Voyage of Deathand Discovery Down the Amazon. Bantam Books, 2011.Means, Philip Ainsworth. “Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisco de Orellana.” The Hispanic American Historical Review, vol. 14, no. 3, 1934, pp. 275–95. JSTOR,https://doi.org/10.2307/2506711. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.