Vasco Da Gama Research Paper

Vasco da Gama was born around 1460 in Sines, Portugal. Vasco’s father was a knight and an explorer. When he was old enough he decided to join the navy, where he was taught how to navigate. Vasco later followed in his father’s footsteps and began to command ships in the king’s name. Little is known about his early life but, in 1492, Vasco solidified his reputation as a sailor when King John II of Portugal sent him to Lisbon and the Algarve to seize French ships as a sign of vengeance against the French government for disrupting Portuguese shipping. By 1495 Vasco had already completed King John II orders and King Manuel took over the throne. The country revived the task of finding a direct trade route to India. At this time, Portugal had established
itself as one of the most powerful maritime countries in Europe.
In 1497, King Manuel I chose da Gama to lead a Portuguese fleet to India in search of a maritime route from Western Europe to the East. Spices from India were very popular in Europe, however, the only way to travel from Europe to India was over land. The King of Portugal figured if he could find a way to get to India by sailing on the ocean, he would become rich by trading spices in Europe. Bartolemeu Dias, another explorer, had discovered the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of Africa. Many thought that there may be a way around the Cape and to the northeast towards India and others were skeptical and thought that the Indian Ocean did not connect with the Atlantic Ocean. Vasco da Gama was given four vessels by the king and was told to find a trade route around Africa to India. The king also told Vasco to find any other trading opportunities along the way if he could.
When Vasco returned to Lisbon he was greeted as a hero.
In 1502, Vasco da Gama had a fleet on the second voyage that consisted of 20 armed ships. Ten of the ships were directly under his command, with his uncle and nephew helming the others. He and his crew terrorized Muslim ports up and down the African east coast, and set ablaze a Muslim ship returning from Mecca, killing the several hundreds of people (including women and children) who were on board. The crew then moved to Calicut, where they wrecked the city's trade port and killed 38 hostages. From there, they moved to the city of Cochin, a city south of Calicut, where da Gama formed an alliance with the local ruler. On February 20, 1503 Vasco da Gama and his crew began to make their way home.
After returning from his voyage in India, Vasco married a woman and she bore him six sons and one daughter. For about the next 20 years Vasco still maintained contact with King Manuel and he advised him on the Indian matters. Vasco was named count of Vidigueira in 1519. Later after the death of Ming Manuel, Vasco returned to India to contend with the corruption of Portuguese officials in the country. Vasco da Gama was named Portuguese viceroy in India by King John III in 1524. Vasco died that same year from overworking himself. Vasco died in Cochin and then his body was sailed back to Portugal for burial in
1538. Vasco da Gama was the first European to open sea-based trade routed to India. He sailed around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and broke the monopoly of Arab and Venetian spice traders. Vasco da Gama is recognized for what he did by having many places, operas, and class of frigates, sport clubs, music, and many more named after him