Vasco Da Gama Research Paper

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Vasco Da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are two very important European explorers who are recognized for their huge discoveries. This paper answers questions about the lives and voyages of these famous explorers. My sources for this paper are two books on Da Gama and two books on Magellan from Schaumburg Library. These four sources are listed on the Works Cited page. Photocopies of the title pages of these books are included as attachments to this paper.
Vasco Da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal around the year 1460. Da Gama one of the most famous explorers, was most known for finding a direct sea route from Europe to India, and commanding the first ships from Europe to India. In Europe, Indian spices were very popular. However, the only way to get to India was over land, since there was no sea route known yet. European rulers planned to send explorers to go search for a sea route, since Bartholomeu Dias had discovered the Cape of Good Hope. The sailor would use the Cape as a point to sail around on their way to India. Originally, Vasco’s father was chosen to be the commander by King Dom Joao II. However the king died before the exploration ever started. After his death, his son Dom Manuel had an interest in a sea expedition to India as well. Since Vasco’s father, Estevao da Gama also died before the expedition, Dom Manuel started making plans and chose Vasco Because of family honor. He had qualities that would be beneficial for the journey (Napoli 22). The king at the time, Dom Manuel, felt finding a sea route to India will bring wealth and honor to his country, and wanted to see this expedition really happen.
The famous sea voyage to India started on July 8, 1497, setting sail in Lisbon, Portugal. Da Gama ha...

... middle of paper ...

... were arrests made following this on charges of abandoning the fleet.
Magellan eventually was killed in the Philippines on April 27, 1521 due to native politics. One reason for his death was that he attempted to convert almost every indigenous person he met on his voyage to Christianity. It’s known that he baptized people, even king Humabon in the Philippines. One king refused to convert, and this led to a battle in the Matcan islands, where Magellan was killed (Koestler-Grack 84). After his death, his crew was left to finish the journey by sailing back without him (Meltzer 68).
Both these men made memorable journeys and were very accomplished. Ferdinand Magellan proved to the world that you can circumnavigate the earth. The discoveries he made opened doors for other sailors to go to lands and seas with more confidence, knowing they had been explored.

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