Vasco da Gama
1460–1524 |
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese nobleman and admiral, who led the first successful voyage from Europe to the Far East by rounding the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Although his first voyage succeeded in reaching the desired destination, only two of his ships returned to Portugal, and more than half of his crew died en route. Arab traders controled virtually all of the trading posts in the region, and his fleet had been too small to resist them, yet after numerous adventures and hair-raising confrontations, he succeeded in his mission. He learned much about weather, navigation and political conditions that was crucial in future journeys, and made enough trade contacts so that future adventures could establish permanent trading routes.
Three years after returning to Portugal da Gama led a second voyage to the far east, this time with 20 warships. Their greatly superior armaments allowed them to prevail over the Arab traders who dominated the area. Most of the battles fought by the Portuguese were directed against Arab merchants. The fleet captured, looted, and destroyed virtually every Arab trading ship it encountered and won a navel battle against the Arab fleet outside Calicut. After establishing Portuguese dominance and signing treaties with several trading posts in India and Africa, his fleet returned to Portugal laden with rich products from the east.
Da Gama lived many years in retirement before being recalled to the east in 1524. He replaced the current viceroy of the region, but died only a few month after reaching India.
Key events during the life of Vasco da Gama:
| Birth of Vasco da Gama in Portugal | |
| Fought against Ferdinand in Portuguese war against Castile. | |
| Bartholomew Diaz rounds the Cape of Good Hope in Africa | |
| July: Embarks on first voyage to India | |
| May: Arrives at Calicut in India | |
| August: Two of da Gama's ships return to Portugal—half of crew died en route. | |
| Leads a fleet of 20 warships to India. | |
| Returns to Portugal and retires with honors | |
| Died of malaria on final voyage to India. |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
| Vasco da Gama in | South Africa by Ian D. Colvin |
| Vasco da Gama in | Famous Men of Modern Times by John H. Haaren |
| How Europe Found the Sea-Road to India in | India: Peeps at History by Beatrice Home |
| How Brave Men Went Sailing upon Unknown Seas in | Our Empire Story by H. E. Marshall |
| Vasco da Gama's Great Voyage in | The Discovery of New Worlds by M. B. Synge |
| Vasco da Gama Reaches India in | A Book of Discovery by M. B. Synge |
| Vasco de Gama Reaches India by Rounding Africa in | European Hero Stories by Eva March Tappan |
Image Links | ||
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 Vasco da Gama meets the Zamorin of Calicut in Famous Men of Modern Times |
Vasco da Gama landing at Kalicut in India: Peeps at History |
 Portugese Explorers in The Discovery of New Worlds |
 Vasco de Gama in A Book of Discovery |
 A Ship of Vasco De Gama's Time in European Hero Stories |
 Fleet of Vasco da Gama sets sail. in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 Vasco da Gama quells a mutiny in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 Visit of the Sheik at Mozambique in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 Vasco visits the King of Melinda in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 Behold Captain! The Land of India' in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 Vasco da Gama taken prisoner in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
 The attack on the Goa Boats in The Adventures of Vasco da Gama |
| Discovered Cape of Good Hope at the southernmost point of Africa. | |
| Paulo da Gama | Brother of Vasco da Gama, and captain of one of his ships. Died on the Journey. |
| Nicolau Coelho | Commanded one of the ships on Vasco da Gama's famous journey to India. |
| Portuguese general who served in the wars against Granada, and was appointed the first governor of Portuguese India. | |
| Portuguese commander who won numerous naval conflicts in Asia and helped establish a colony in India at Goa. | |
| Emanuel I of Portugal | King of Portugal during years of Portuguese conquest of the Far East. |
| Genoan sailor, sponsored by Isabela of Spain, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas. |