In Sines, Portugal around 1460, Vasco da Gama was born into a noble family of leaders. As soon as he was of age, da Gama joined the navy, which is where he learned the skills needed to navigate by sea. He got to demonstrate those skills in 1492, when he was sent on a successful trip as revenge against the French to seize their ships (biography.com). Even with his experience, it is unclear why Vasco was chosen to lead the first ever voyage from Portugal to India by sea. Eventually, Vasco da Gama was sent on multiple successful excursions to India and brought home valuable goods each time.
In 1497, King Manuel I chose da Gama to lead a voyage, and this was the first time someone had attempted to sail from India to Portugal by sea (history.com). King Manuel I wanted to establish trading alliances, but also wished to label himself as the King of Jerusalem (biography.com) . There were four ships, including the São Gabriel, captained by Vasco da Gama and Pedro de Alenquer. Also, da Gama’s brother led the São Raphael. In addition to those two ships, there was a supply ship and the Berrio (history.com).
The fleet sailed across the Atlantic with no sign of land for close to four months, until November 4, 1497, when they reached the Bay Bahai da Santa Elana. The team made repairs to the ships and replenished supplies, when a misunderstanding between them and the local Khoikhoi tribe took place. The tribe feared attack, and began throwing spears, injuring da Gama in his thigh. The crew left the area, and reached the Cape of Good Hope on November 22. Next they sailed into Santa Bras on November 25 to repair ships. They unloaded the damaged supply ship, and then burned it. Once again, they came into contact with the Khoikhoi group. After taki...
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Vasco da Gama made many discoveries and achievements during his lifetime. He was the first person ever to sail directly from Portugal to India around the Cape of Good Hope. This allowed the Portugese people access to Indian markets and many European spices. His voyage showed his country that wealth could be attained from Indian goods and trading at those markets. Da Gama was able to force his way into the Indian trading system, and established Portugal as a huge supplier of luxury goods. He brought much wealth to Portugal because of this (history.com).
Discovering a route to India was an extremely momentous event, and made a big impact in the European trading system. Vasco da Gama’s life was full of hard work, discovery, and exploration. He was able to bring back much wealth for Portugal, and his successful voyages changed trade during his time and beyond.
His first voyage took place in 1598 with his uncle. He was on his own for his next trip which lasted 2 years. He was in France from 1603 until 1607. They then found some West Indians that
Toward the end of pre-colonial times in Europe, due to the fall of Constantinople, many European nations felt the need to find an alternate route to the East Indies. The trade of rare goods such as spices, rice, exotic fruits and silk fabrics were much in demand, but came at extreme prices. In the beginning of the ‘Age of Exploration’, Portugal was in the forefront with the early explorers Henry the Navigator, Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira, and Diogo Silves discovering the Madeira Islands, the Azores, and the exploration of Africa respectively, but King John the II of Portugal was unconvinced by Christopher Columbus’s pleas to fund his plan to sail West to the East Indies. Columbus made many demands for self-profit, including ten percent of any riches with which he returned, and even an ‘Admiralty’. Subsequently, Columbus took his plans to Queen Isabella of Spain. Spain acquiesced, and Columbus set off on his fateful journey. The Roman Catholic Church was very interested in expanding the Christian faith during this time and applied its influence on the monarchy. Religion also played a large personal role as Columbus truly believed that God spoke to him, and guided his hand. Additionally, at this time in Europe, land and food were at a premium. The monarchs of the era were fully aware that the acquisition of more land, slave labor and possible natural resources would greatly increase their power, prestige and subsequent wealth. After learning of Columbus’ successful return and the Treaty of Tordesillas (which divided the New World between Spain and Portugal), King Henry VII of England threw his hat into the ring and sent John Cabot sailing from Bristol on an attempt to find a shorter route to the ‘Indies’. Not to be left out in ...
4.Prince Henry the Navigator was a prince in Portugal. He led Portuguese to sail into the Atlantic. He also believed in
Although still very inexperienced, in 1497 Vasco da Gama was chosen to lead the first expedition to India. He took four vessels to embark on the journey with him, including his own flagship the St. Gabriel. He chose to sail south along the prevailing winds of Africa in hopes of the journey taking less time than it should. After a few months of his travels, Vasco and his crew arrived at what is now known as Mozambique because the majority of his crew had come down with scurvy. Consequently, they had to reside there for nearly an entire month to rest and repair. Eventually, Vasco and
3In early 1520’s a man named Ferdinand Magellan circulated the world and was the first one to do it with five ships and aro
Although there is much debate about Magellan and his crew, facts show that Magellan achieved great success and he proved that the world could be navigated by sea. He successfully routed and crossed the Strait of Magellan even though it was unknown to Europeans and despite the various obstacles (Doc. C). In total, the voyage of Magellan took three years, and although Magellan never returned to Spain, he discovered the route to Asia through the Western Hemisphere which opened up trade and expanded European knowledge about the
The exploration of the West African coast was just a preliminary to the India Trade (Parry, 131). Prince Henry encouraged his explorers to continue making their way further and further down the coastline to gain more intelligence and make more money (Parry, 132). His death in 1460 signaled an end to further exploration for a time, as the mariners had gotten to a point of coast around Benin that was more dangerous to traverse and seek a way through than it was considered worth (Parry, 133). Furthermore, Henry died in debt due to these activities, which discouraged the Crown from spending much on exploration (Parry, 133). Little by little, one small expedition after another, they eventually found the coastline trending south and continued to chart the waters and coastline until war broke out between Portugal and Castile in 1475 (Parry, 134).
Many countries have the pleasure of celebrating Independence Days. These historic holidays are filled with nationalistic celebrations and delicious traditional food. In Chile, the natives celebrate their break from Spain with Fiestas Patrias. In Mexico, the president begins the celebration by ringing a bell and reciting the “Grito de Dolores” and he ends his speech by saying “Viva Mexico” three times.
The Age of Discovery which began in the 15th century was one of the ground breaking time periods for European global exploration to Africa and India, and which lead to the ascending of European power. While there were many prominent explorers during this era such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama is widely seen as one of the most successful explorers of this time period. He not only found the first all ocean route from Europe to India but he also solidified Portugal as a powerhouse in the Eastern spice trade with India. Through my discussion of Vasco da Gama’s early life and the exploration voyages he commanded, this will further support his significant role in Maritime history.
Amerigo sailed from Spain in 1499 in an expedition that visited the neighborhood of Cape Paria and several hundred miles of coast, and returned in June, 1500. In May, 1501, he entered the service of Emanuel, of Portugal, and participated in an expedition that visited the coast of. Brazil. hi May, 1503, he commanded a caravel in a squadron that sailed for the discovery of Malacca, but parted company from the rest, and finally made his way to the coast of Brazil, where he discovered the bay of All Saints, remained there two months, then ran 260 leagues farther south, where he built a fort, somewhere near Cape Frio, and, leaving a colony there, returned to Lisbon in June, 1504.
Magellan first went into sea in 1505, when he sailed to India with the fleet of Francisco Almeida, Portugal’s first ruler to that country. In 1506, Magellan went on an expedition sent by Almeida to the east coast of Africa to strengthen Portuguese bases there. The next year, he returned to India, where he participated in trade and in several naval battles against Turkish fleets.
The ships went around the coast of South America and at the tip “Strait of Magellan” was discovered. The men had to stop on their way because of the terrifying weather. None of the ships sailed until spring, when Santiago was sent to find a route. The ship was wrecked and the men were too afraid to set sail, until 1520.
Although da Gama’s discovery of the trade route to India proved a tragedy for Indians in later years, he succeeded in creating a path for future explorers to follow while expanding the knowledge of the world. His expedition proved that any journey or goal, be it land or sea, could be accomplished with instilled will and unwavering determination. As quoted by da Gama himself
Many challenges were brought to Magellan’s attention during his later life. When he was around forty years old, “Magellan was granted a large sum of money to find a route to the Spic...
Ferdinand along with his brother were assigned to a Portuguese ship fleet headed towards India in 1505. After this expedition Ferdinand traveled on many expeditions to India and Africa. Although he gained great knowledge in these expeditions, he was injured in several battles. One of these expeditions was a huge soldier and ship force sent by King Manuel to Morocco to influence the Moroccan governor to pay his taxes to the Portuguese Empire. The Portuguese Empire easily defeated the Moroccan troops but Ferdinand stayed behind in Morocco and was later injured in a skirmish that seriously injured him and left h...