Lesson summary vasco da gama was the first person to sail from europe to india. Vasco da gama returned to portugal in september 1499 and was richly rewarded as the man who had brought to fruition a plan that had taken eighty years to fulfill. Vasco da gama continued with the hope that he would find a new route to india. Honours and rewards bestowed upon vasco da gama, 14991524. Vasco da gama, was a portuguese explorer who was commander of the first ships to sail straight from europe to india. In an epic voyage, he sailed around africas cape of good. Da gama s breakthrough opened up the sea route to india and provided the platform for. His initial voyage to india was the first to link europe and asia by an ocean route. His epochal voyage 149799 was made at the order of manuel i. Bartholomew diaz himself acted as pilot to the canary islands, which they.
Explorer vasco da gama was commissioned by the portuguese king to find a maritime route to the east. Vasco da gamas first voyage on 8 july 1947 the vasco took off on his first voyage consisting of four ships that left lisbon. Early maps illustrating vasco da gamas first voyage. Vasco da gama biography, facts, timeline the history junkie. The major significance of vasco da gama s voyages was that they opened maritime trade between asia and europe and they helped to create a portuguese empire. Portuguese explorer vasco da gama was commissioned by the portuguese king to find a maritime route to the east. On december 16th, 1497 vasco da gama reached the point where bartolomeu dias turned back. Feb 08, 2016 nobleman and explorer vasco da gama established a trade route that linked portugal directly with the indian spice market. Vasco da gama left on his first voyage from lisbon, portugal on july 8, 1497. Vasco da gama 1460 or 1469 december 24th, 1524 was a portuguese sailor. Three portuguese accounts of vasco da gamas first voyage, 1608, 1612, 1646. His success in doing so proved to be one of the more instrumental moments in the history of.
In 1492, he commanded the defense of portuguese colonies against the french in guinea. On his way he fell very ill and died in india decemder 24 1524, he was buried in india. Our first stop on our tip will be at the cape verde islands, where we will restock on supplies the we will need for the trip to cape of good hope. Vasco da gama was born either in 1460 or 1469 in sines, on the southwest coast of portugal. Journal of the first voyage of vasco da gama to india. Portuguese government, whose intention was to find a maritime route to the east. This year marks the 500th anniversary of vasco da gama s 14691524 voyage to india, which is rated as one of the greatest achievements of mankind. His initial voyage to india 14971499 was the first to link europe and asia by an ocean route, connecting the atlantic and. According to some peoples accounts, he was a knight in the 1490s in sines. Initially the ploy worked, as the sultan of mozambique received them very well, and even offered them guides so that they continue their journey to the india. While christopher columbus has gotten most of the ink for his 1492 transit of the atlantic ocean, which proved that a hitherto unknown by europeans but populated hemisphere lay over the western horizon, portuguese mariner vasco da gama s voyage, just five. It carried with it a fourvessel fleet consisting of twomedium sized sailing ships, a caravel and a large storeship. Vasco da gama, portuguese navigator whose voyages to india in the late. Oct 20, 2008 two of gama s ships made it back to portugal, arriving in july and august of 1499.
For this reason, vasco da range decided to pose as muslim. Vasco da gama carried out 2 expeditions between 1497 and 1502. It was delayed for so many years that vasco ended up being given the expedition. However, da gama was unable to make a trade agreement with the ruler of the city. Da gama capitalized on portugals invention of the caravel, a highly maneuverable sailing ship, and became the first person to sail directly from europe to india. Vasco da gama is software that offers new functions in the area of pc video editing. Vasco da gama and his crew spent three months in india and headed for home in august of 1498 ad. Vasco da gama s biggest contribution to portuguese was the discovery of a direct sea route linking europe and asia for the first time.
He hoped to enforce portugals interests in the east and wanted to get revenge on the muslims for the opposition in 1948 and killed many indians and muslims. Vasco da gama is one of the most famous of the portuguese explorers from the age of discovery, which occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. Vasco da gama, 1st count of vidigueira was the first european to reach india by sea. On a second voyage, from 1502 to 1503, vasco da gama established portuguese colonies for king john iii of mozambique and sofala on the southeast african coast. While christopher columbus has gotten most of the ink for his 1492 transit of the atlantic ocean, which proved that a hitherto unknown by europeans but populated hemisphere lay over the western horizon, portuguese mariner vasco da gamas voyage, just five years later in 1497, was longer and introduced europeans to the far wealthier cultures. Fought against ferdinand in portuguese war against castile. He sailed to india on the sao gabriel, the sao rafael, the berrio and one cargo ship that did not have a name. Vasco da gama, an explorer and a military naval commander, led the very first voyage from europe to india. Discover facts about vasco da gama the explorer and navigator, and the first.
He was the first european who went to india through the cape of good hope at the southern end of africa. The major significance of vasco da gamas voyages was that they opened maritime trade between asia and europe and they helped to create a portuguese empire. Vasco da gama was given a fleet of ships by the king and told to find a trade route around africa to india. He started on his first voyage in 1487 from lisbon, portugal to india. For almost a century 15001600, the portuguese held a monopoly on european exploration and trade in the indian ocean. Vasco da gama was a portuguese explorer who sailed to india from europe. On this date in 1497 dom vasco da gama, 1st count of vidigueira, a portuguese explorer, set out on his first voyage to india thus becoming the first european to reach india by sea, linking europe and asia for the first time by ocean route, as well as the atlantic and the indian oceans entirely and definitively, and in this way, the west and the. Historians know little about why exactly da gama, still an inexperienced explorer, was chosen to lead the expedition to india in 1497. Facts, timeline and history about the life of vasco da gama 1460. Vasco da gama found a direct sea route from europe to asia, and was the first. A journal of the first voyage of vasco da gama, 14971499 by alvaro velho.
Vasco da gamas voyage of discovery 1497 south african. He lived from about 1460 to 1524 and was the first european to reach india directly by sea. Vasco da gama was born in about 1460 into a noble family. Because of his first expedition, he was now prepared for an encounter with the muslim traders. Vasco da gama was born in sines, portugal he came from a noble portuguese family and his father was a distinguished soldier. To get to the cape we will be traveling far away from the coast to escape the winds and waves created by the shores. Vasco da gama made portugal one of the most important trading and naval powers in the indian ocean. The reason for putting discovery in inverted commas is because the land was not, as. Three portuguese accounts of vasco da gama s first voyage, 1608, 1612, 1646. Discover facts about vasco da gama the explorer and navigator, and the first person to sail. His expeditions helped portugal become a powerful nation. Vasco da gama timeline of events elizabethan era england life. Vasco da gama was a portuguese explorer and the first person to navigate a route to the east and india. 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.
Vasco da gama was one of the most successful portuguese explorers in the european age of discovery. He was the first european to reach india by sea, linking europe and asia for the first time by an ocean route, as well as connecting the atlantic and the indian oceans, and in this way, the west and the orient. The three voyages of vasco da gama, and his viceroyalty. Portuguese fleet to india in search of a maritime route from western europe to the east. He was the first european who went to india through the cape of good hope, the southern end of africa. It is only comparable to neil armstrongs journey to the moon. The expedition rounded the southern tip of africa at the cape of good hope on november 22. It carried a fourvessel fleet consisting of twomedium sized sailing ships, a caravel and a large store ship that currents along the african coast would impede his progress. By the time vasco da gama returned from his first voyage to india in 1499, he had spent more than two years away from home, including 300 days at sea, and had traveled some 24,000 miles. Da gama returned to portugal with samples of spices and precious stones. Vasco da gama was the first european to open a seabased trade route to india.
His first voyage vasco da gama left on his first voyage from lisbon, portugal on july 8, 1497. To know about vasco da gamas childhood, read this historyplex article. Vasco da gama biography childhood, life achievements. Over the course of two voyages, beginning in 1497 and 1502, da gama landed and traded in locales along the coast of southern africa before reaching india on may 20, 1498. Interesting facts about the childhood and early life of.
He was the first european to reach india by sea, linking for the first time europe and asia by ocean route, as well as the atlantic and the indian oceans entirely and definitively, and in this way, the west and the orient. Gama was well educated and was taught several languages, physics, geometry, mathematics and astronomy. Biography of the life of vasco da gama nationality portuguese lifespan 1469 1524 family father was estevao da gama a portuguese noble and courtier education well educated befitting his status career explorer and navigator famous for. Vasco da gama s first voyage to india is considered to be the beginning of global multiculturalism. The portuguese nobleman vasco da gama 14601524 sailed from lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach india and open a sea route from europe to the east. Accompanied by original documents correa, gaspar on. Make educational timelines or create a timeline for your company website. Vasco da gama was best known for being the first to sail from europe to india by rounding africas cape of good hope. A brief timeline of the legendary explorer vasco da gama. Vasco da gama used the naval route south of africa, passing through mombasa and the cape of good hope.
Timetoasts free timeline maker lets you create timelines online. Vasco da gama, 1st count of vidigueira, was a portuguese explorer and the first european to reach india by sea. In an epic voyage, he sailed around africas cape of good hope and succeeded in breaking the monopoly of arab and. Vasco da gama returned to portugal from his first voyage to india in 1499 to a heros welcome. Portrait of vasco da gama by artist antonio manuel da fonseca in 1838. Vasco da gamas early life and first voyage to india. Learn how he managed to sail around africas cape of good hope in this video. The first voyage to india vasco da gama and his fleet sailed from lisbon on 8 july 1497. Early maps illustrating vasco da gama s first voyage. Vasco da gama was a portuguese explorer and navigator who traveled to the east during europes period of intense exploration between 1420 and 1580 ce. Vasco da gama s father was estevao da gama, who had served in the 1460s as a knight of the household of infante ferdinand, duke of viseu. His initial voyage to india 14971499 was the first to link europe and asia by an ocean route, connecting the atlantic and the indian oceans and, in this way, the west and the east.
He reached goa on 11 september 1524 but died at kochi three months later. Worlds first app to be approved by the uk hydrographic office for the provision of official admiralty corrections. His mission would be to sail around the cape and make his way to india. On the first voyage, from 1497 to 1499, he and his fleet reached calicut, an important trading center in southern india. The king of portugal was overjoyed at his coming, and vasco da gama was received with extraordinary honour and warmth. Vasco da gama on 8 july 1947 the fleet consisting of four ships left lisbon.
By that time, portugal had forts and settlements in india. Vasco da gama was the first european to explore a seabased trade route to india. This voyage launched the allwater route from europe to asia. However, soon appeared the suspicions and the sultan began to suspect that vasco da gama had deceived him about their religion.
The timeline of vasco da gama reveals some important events from his life. Vasco da gama 1469 or 1469december 24, 1524 was a portuguese sailor. On 8 july 1947 the vasco took off on his first voyage consisting of four ships that left lisbon. He was an adventurous portuguese navigator and a good leader. This feat, accomplished on his first voyage to india not only opened up many avenues for world trade but also paved the way for portuguese colonization in asia. He was also told to find any other trading opportunities along the way.
What, if anything, did vasco da gama discover on his first. In 1497, he was appointed to command an expedition equipped by the portuguese government, whose. The 170 men on board carried instructions to open a sea route from europe to asia, to unlock the ageold secrets of the spice trade, and to locate a. Facing various hazards on the way, he reached india, thus opening the direct sea route to asia. He was the first person to sail directly from europe to india. A journal of the first voyage of vasco da gama, 14971499. After sailing down the western coast of africa and rounding the cape of good hope, his expedition made numerous stops in africa before reaching the trading post of calicut, india. He is credited with linking europe and asia by an ocean route that connected the atlantic and indian oceans by going around the southern tip of africa known as the cape of good hope. Portuguese explorers reached india in the 15th century, establishing a legacy of misunderstanding, suspicion, hostilityand violence. Vasco da gamas father was estevao da gama, who had served in the 1460s as a knight of the household of infante ferdinand, duke of viseu. Portugal emerged as an early leader in european exploration, searching for trade routes to asian markets and opportunities for religious conquest. The voyage home to portugal was a difficult and long one. Feb 17, 2011 vasco da gama was the first european to open a seabased trade route to india.
Discovered an ocean route from portugal to the east, assumed to be impossible feat as it was believed that. Vasco da gamas return voyage was more difficult than his voyage out had been. The voyages of portuguese navigator vasco da gama 149799, 150203, 1524 opened the sea route from western europe to asia by way of the cape of good hope. Da gama was no longer a young man, though, and he died soon after arriving. Vasco da gama found a direct sea route from europe to asia, and was the first european to sail to india by going around africa. One ship had to be abandoned before they made it to africa. The 27, 000 mile voyage of vasco da gama great explorers goodman, joan, mcneely, tom on. This manuscript is the only known copy of a journal believed to have been written on board ship during vasco da gama s first voyage to india.
Little is known about vasco da gama s early life, but it is believed that he was a student of mathematics and navigation. In 1524 king john lll named vasco da gama viceroy to india he went to india to make sure everything was fine. Shayla hoa and natalie skopalova in 1492, gama earned his first voyage when king john the second of portugal dispatched him to the south of lisbon and after that, to the alg. Vasco went out on his second voyage on february 12, 1502. Vasco da gama simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. On july 8th, 1497 vasco da gama set out on his first voyage with 170 men from lisbon.
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