Little is known about Vasco da Gama’s early life, but it is believed that he was a student of mathematics and navigation. Vasco da Gama was born either in 1460 or 1469 in Sines, on the southwest coast of Portugal. His name was despised and hated across many overseas territories, especially in India.Vasco da Gama, was a Portuguese explorer who was commander of the first ships to sail straight from Europe to India. Vasco da Gama undoubtedly remains a controversial figure, as he was known for being cruel to other traders and local inhabitants. The Portuguese Empire maintained a strong monopoly over these essential commercial routes for nearly a century before the English, French, and Dutch navies began to challenge them. He later commanded two major trading expedition back to India. Nevertheless, da Gama still managed to trade with the local Muslim merchants, eventually returning with a cargo worth sixty times the cost of the expedition.įor his contributions, Vasco da Gama was appointed as the Governor of India and granted the title of Viceroy. However, the king was not impressed as he expected gold and silver. The Portuguese were welcomed with warm hospitality and exchanged gifts of clothing, honey, and oil. The King of Calicut promptly returned to the capital city to greet the mysterious foreigners. After traveling for ten months, da Gama finally reached the shores of India, near the Malabar Coast. Along the way, they stopped at Mozambique, Mombasa (present-day Kenya), and Malindi. The fleet sailed along the west coast of Africa and looped around the cape. On July 8, 1497, da Gama departed from Lisbon at the head of four ships and a crew of 170 sailors. Portugal subsequently transitioned into a colonial empire capable of contending with the other great powers of Europe. Moreover, this new direct access to India paved the way for centuries of imperialism and subjugation throughout Asia-Pacific.

This discovery played a critical role in establishing reliable shipping between Western Europe and the Orient. During his first expedition, he found a sea route connecting the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Dozens of ships were wrecked, and thousands of lives were lost at sea. Before da Gama, there were many failed attempts made by Europeans to reach the East Indies.

Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira, was a famous explorer who became the first European to reach India by sea. Today on May 20, 1498, Portuguese-explorer Vasco da Gama and his crew arrive at Calicut, India.

When did vasco da gama reach india