The Portuguese government treats da Gama as a hero and immediately sends another group of ships back to India to establish a Portuguese trading post. Da Gama is forced to reduce his fleet by burning one of his ships.ĭa Gama is hailed as a hero for his discovery.Īccompanied by only 54 of his original 170 crew members, da Gama arrives back in Portugal. Along the way they are caught in a monsoon and several crewmembers die of scurvy. The crew remains for three months, but the local Muslims traders refuse to allow them to barter freely.ĭa Gama and his crew set sail for Europe, bearing spices and the news of their discovery. The Portuguese mistakenly believe the residents are Christians, as they have never heard of Hinduism. Da Gama attempts an audience with the sultan, but he offers only limited gifts and the local population forces him to leave.Īt the port of Malindi, Da Gama takes on a Muslim pilot, who instructs him on navigating the difficult winds and currents of the Indian Ocean.ĭa Gama becomes the first European to complete a sea voyage to India.ĭa Gama lands in Calicut, India, and the local Hindu ruler welcomes da Gama and his crew. Da Gama then rounds the Cape of Good Hope and heads toward the uncharted Indian Ocean.ĭa Gama lands on the east coast of Africa.ĭa Gama and his crew land in Mozambique, an Islamic city-state on the east coast of Africa. This establishes sailing routes that are still used today.

Hoping to capitalize on the prevailing winds, he sets a course south along the coast of Africa, then swings out into the Atlantic, only to return to the southeastern coast of Africa. The king hopes to find lucrative markets and to exploit existing Asian commercial networks.ĭa Gama commands four vessels as they set sail for India, including his flagship, SãoGabriel. King Manuel of Portugal commissions da Gama to lead an expedition to find a sea route to India. The king commissions da Gama to sail to India. His reputation as a fierce sailor and warrior increases. Da Gama travels first to Lisbon and then to the Algarve region of Portugal, where he seizes French ships. The French government disrupts Portuguese shipping, and King John II sends Vasco da Gama to retaliate. Vasco da Gama builds his reputation as a sailor. When da Gama joins the Order of Santiago, his family’s prospects improve, especially since the master of the Order later becomes King John II of Portugal. Vasco da Gama joins the Order of Santiago. He develops a reputation as a strong sailor. Little is known about Vasco da Gama’s early years, but he joins the navy, where he learns to navigate.

He is the third son of Estêvão da Gama, who commanded the fortress at Sines. Vasco da Gama is born to a noble family in Sines, Portugal. Vasco da Gama is born in Sines, Portugal.(c.

What did vasco da gama dis