vasco da gama what did vasco da gama discovered

At times the arrogance of the Portuguese provoked battles with the Muslim natives, and Vasco’s men leave on bad terms. Through it we absorb the mores of the time: the inhabitants of one coastal town “played the flute, in a very nice way for black people of whom music is not expected”. We capture the essence of Vasco's legendary voyage through an anonymous account, almost a diary. They searched 'for new lands, islands, people, seas and anything else that there is'.

The ships swarmed with shapes and symbols, pilots and seafarers, poets and soldiers, geographers and mathematicians. 'into a sea of deepness and winds still to discover'. Vasco da Gama, the man to take the mantle. His task: to sail right around Africa and up to Calcutta, establishing trading posts wherever possible and convert Muslims to Christianity. A nation in want of 'a single man, around twenty years old' to lead the hunt 'for Christians and spices'. He remains an important figure within the history of exploration as a result of his accomplishments.15th century Portugal: a nation at the cutting edge of marine navigation with an insatiable appetite for imperial expansion. Da Gama died on the 24th of December 1524. He even went on another voyage to India, which saw him amass a large trove of rice, spices and precious metals.ĭa Gama was appointed as Governor of India in 1524 for his success as a knight, and in recognition of his monumental voyage to India. Important journeys included the trip to the Cape, the voyage to Mozambique and the trip to Mombasa which all helped to give Portugal increased power within the African nations, and helped to spread the Portuguese empire. Even after the horrible crossing from India, da Gama still set sail on other expeditions. The ships did not reach land until 1499, and even then, only half the crew survived the journey as many had succumbed to scurvy, or severe sickness.

He ignored the monsoon wind patterns which he had been told about by the locals and as a result, the voyage was very lengthy and harrowing. In fact it took over 100 years for other European countries such as England and France to challenge Portugal’s control in this part of the world.ĭa Gama left India on the 29th August 1498. Thanks to da Gama’s successful trip, Portugal was the first European nation to reach the orient for trade, and as a result they were able to maintain control in the orient for many years. However, the journey very long and in fact, the distance covered by da Gama’s Indian voyage was the longest expedition that had ever been made at that time. Da Gama’s trip to India was a milestone in world history because the route avoided the dangerous and disputed Mediterranean and Arabian Sea’s, and enabled a safe passage for trade ships.

Vasco da gama what did vasco da gama discovered