Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who lived during the late 1400s and early 1500s. He was born around 1460 in Portugal. He is known for leading the first successful sea voyage from Europe to India. This journey changed how countries traveled and traded across oceans.

During da Gama’s lifetime, European nations were searching for new sea routes to Asia. Land routes were long and passed through many regions. A sea route promised faster travel and safer trade. Portuguese leaders supported exploration along the coast of Africa. This work began earlier under Prince Henry the Navigator.

In 1497, Vasco da Gama left Portugal with four ships. He sailed south along the coast of Africa. He rounded the southern tip of the continent, called the Cape of Good Hope. This cape is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Indian Ocean. The journey was difficult. Crews faced storms, hunger, and disease.

In 1498, da Gama reached the city of Calicut on the west coast of India. This was a major trading port. He returned to Portugal the next year. Although many sailors died, the voyage proved that a sea route to India was possible. Portugal could now trade directly with Asian ports.

Vasco da Gama later returned to India on other voyages. He became a leader in Portuguese activities there. In 1524, he was named Viceroy of India. A viceroy is a royal official who governs a land for a king. He died later that year in India.

Vasco da Gama’s voyages were part of a wider period of European exploration. This period is often called the Age of Discovery. Sea routes connected distant regions. Information about oceans, winds, and coastlines increased. These changes shaped global travel and trade for centuries.