Vasco da Gama is best remembered as the first
European to sail from European to India. The sea route he found helped Portugal
build a rich empire overseas.
Vasco da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal, around
1469. As a young man, da Gama studied navigation an astronomy. He went on the
serve as an officer in the Portuguese navy. In 1497, the king of Portugal asked
da Gamma to find the sea route to India by sailing around Africa. This would
allow Portugal tocontrol the rich Indian spice trade. Could da Gamma do it?
Earlier Portuguese expendition had rounded the southern trips of Africa. But
these trips were long, difficult, and dangerous. Was it possible to travel from
Europe to India in a single voyage?
In July 1497, da Gama set sail from Lisbon, Portugal,
with four ships. By January 1498, the expendition reached Mozambique on
Africa’s southeastern coast. But Arab traders
set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, with four ships. By January 1498, the
expendition reached Mozambique on Africa’s southeastern coast. But Arab
traders set sail from Lisbon, Portugal,
with four ships. By January 1498, the expendition reached Mozambique on
Africa’s southeastern coast. But Arab traders in Mozambique disliked the
Portuguese. They drove da Gama away, farther north, on the coast of in
Mozambique disliked the Portuguese. They drove da Gama away, farther north, on
the coast of Kenya, da Gamma recruited an Arab sailor to guide his ships across
the Indian ocean. In may 1498, they reached Calicut on India’s coast. In
Calicut, da Gama found pearls, jewels, and wonderful spices for sale. But the
king and local merchants refused to trade with the Portuguese. Furious, da
Gamma sailed away. He arrived in Portugal 1499 and was honored as hero.
In 1502, da Gama made a second voyage to India. He
returned to Calicut with warships and soldiers. Da Gama sank merchant vessels
and killed many civilians. The Gama sailed home to Portugal carrying a rich
cargo of spice. Portugal soon built a valuable trading empire in India.
In 1524, da Gama made
his last voyage to India. The Portuguese king had named da Gama the Governor of
Portugal’s possessions there.da Gama died three months after reaching India.
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