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Vasco da Gama spent March 2 to March 29, in the year 1498, in the district of Mozambique Island.The four ships sailed a distance of more than 10,000 kilometres for over three months.On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Gama led a fleet of four ships with a crew of 170 men from Lisbon.It has also been claimed that he studied under the astrologer and astronomer, Abraham Zacuto.Teixeira de Aragao, a Portuguese historian, suggested that he studied at the inland town of Evora, where he learned mathematics and navigation.His father was the Governor of Sines, Portugal.Here are some facts on the Portuguese navigator and his journey: It has been more than 500 years since he started his journey to India. His voyage opened the first all-water trade route between Europe and Asia. On his journey, he made stops at Mozambique, Mombasa and Malindi. The Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India (Goa) existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.Da Gama set sail on the first European voyage to India, more than 500 years ago, on this day (July 8). The state of Goa and city of Cochin still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Vasco contracted malaria not long after arriving in Goa and died in the city of Cochin on Christmas Eve in 1524. Deathĭa Gama was sent to India again in 1524 to replace the incompetent Viceroy. In this trip he returned triumphant, primarily with silk and gold, and also established settlement of the Portugese people in India. On this voyage, Da Gama and his troops killed hundreds of Muslims, often brutally, in order to demonstrate their power. On 12 February 1502, da Gama led the 4th Portuguese Armada to India, a fleet of fifteen ships and eight hundred men, with the object of enforcing Portuguese interests in the east. He was given the title ‘Admiral of the Indian Seas.’ Last voyage to India
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He however received a hero’s welcome and was well rewarded by the king. On Da Gama’s journey back, many of his crew members died from scurvy. Admiral of the Indian Seasĭa Gama arrived in Lisbon in September, 1499. He also took with him hostages, a few Nairs and sixteen Mukkuva fishermen. His expedition beat all expectations after he brought in cargo that was worth 60 times the cost of the expedition. This strained relations between the two.ĭa Gama left India on August 29, 1498. The king ordered him to pay a large tax in gold similar to what other merchants pay. He finally reached Calicut on May 20, 1498.Īt first, da Gama and his trading were well-received, but this only lasted a short while. First voyage to Indiaĭa Gama’a trip to India consisted of several stops along the way in Africa as well as problems faced with Muslim traders who did not want him to interfere in their profitable trade routes.
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The distance that he and his crew travelled from Africa to India was greater than what it would have been around the equator. On 8 July 1497, Da Gama led a fleet of four ships with a crew of a 170 men from Lisbon. Little is known about Vasco da Gama’s early life, but it is believed that he was a student of mathematics and navigation. Vasco da Gama was born either in 1460 or 1469 in Sines, on the southwest coast of Portugal. Vasco da Gama, was a Portuguese explorer who was commander of the first ships to sail straight from Europe to India.
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