The Great Explorer who Discovered Sea Routes in India – Vasco De Gama

02 Jun The Great Explorer who Discovered Sea Routes in India – Vasco De Gama

Vasco Da Gama biography / Vasco de Gama was one of the world’s most famous and prominent maritime explorers, who discovered sea routes in India.

The great discovery of Vasco de Gama laid the foundation stone for business and cultural exchange throughout the world. Not only this, but he was also the first person to reach India via sea from Europe, and also established the Portuguese colony in Goa. So let’s know about the great explorer Vasco de Gama-

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  Full Name – Vasco Da Gama
Birthday – between 1460 and 1469 in Saines, Alejandro,
Mother’s Name – Isabel Sorde
Father Name : Estevao de Gama
Wife Name – Katrina The Atayade
Death – 24 May 1524

Vasco De Gama’s Birth and Early Life

Historians have differing views about the early life and birth of the great explorer Vasco de Gama. Although some historians believe him to have been born in 1460, some historians state his birth in 1469 at the fortress of Sines on the seacoast of the province of Alentejo, Portugal.

Vasco de Gama’s father Estevao de Gama was also a great investigative sailor, his father also being knighted. At the same time, Vasco de Gama took an interest in his father’s business and he also took command of the ships being taken by the sea. Let me tell you that he is known as both Vasco da Gama and Vasco de Gama.

Vasco De Gama’s First Sea Voyage

Vasco de Gama arrived in Lisbon, South Africa with a fleet of 4 ships on 8 July 1497 for the first time to explore trade routes in India. During this time, he had two medium-sized three-mast ships. Each ship weighed about 120 tons in it, and their names were Saul, Raffle and Saul Gabrial.

It took him a long time of about 3 months to travel a long distance of about 10 thousand kilometres. Apart from 4 ships, there were 3 interpreters during this voyage with his fleet. Let us tell you that this fleet had also taken the Pedro, that is, the stone pillar with it, to mark its discovery and the lands won.

On 15 July, during the search for his first sea voyage, he reached the Canary Islands, and on 26 July his fleet sailed on the Sao Tiago in Cape Verde. After an 8-day stay here, Vasco de Gama took a winding route through the South Atlantic to Cape op Good Hope to escape the strong currents of the Gulf of Guyana, and thus with his vast fleet, he arrived in Santa Helena Bay on 7 November. Which currently arrives in South Africa.

After this, on 16 November, he left for his entire team but due to bad weather and storm, his journey to turn from the Cape of Good Hope was stopped till November. After this Vasco de Gama turned to the Gulf of Mosel. Here, he asked the ship carrying luggage and Pedro Gada on one side to be separated.

He then reached the coast of Natal on 25 December. Then, furthering his campaign, he reached the coast of ‘Natal’ on 11 January 1498. Vasco de Gama then accompanied his fleet to a small river between Natal and Mozambique, which he called “Rio de Cobar”.

Furthering his campaign, he reached the Clemen River in modern Mozambique, which he named “Rio dos Bones Sinais”. At the same time, during this expedition, many members of the ship team suffered from scurvy disease due to vitamin C deficiency, due to which the operation was stopped for about 1 month. Then on 2 March, the fleet reached Mozambique island.

Vasco de Gama got to know about his trade with Arab merchants in this aeration. Four Arabic ships filled with gold, silver and spices were also parked there. Apart from this, they also came to know of the capture of several coastal cities of Mozambique ruler Prester John.

However, Prester John provided two shipyards to Vasco de Gama, one of whom escaped when he came to know that he was a Portuguese Christian. In this way, the expedition arrived in Malindi on 14 April, where it took a driver who knew the way to Calicut, located on the southwest coast of India.

At the same time, after several days’ journey across the Indian Ocean, his fleet reached Calicut on the southwest coast of India on 20 May 1498, where Vasco de Gama established it as proof of his arrival in India. Let me tell you that during that time Calicut was one of the most famous and important trading centres of India, although Vasco de Gama got the business of the ruler of Calicut agreeing to trade.

After this, Vasco de Gama was forced to leave Calicut in August due to some differences with the ruler of Calicut after living here for about 3 months. At the same time, news of the discovery of India by Vasco de Gama started spreading. Actually Vasco de Gama for Europe’s merchants, sultans and robbers discovered a seaway.

After which many kings and merchants of Europe came with the intention of occupying India and tried to assert their authority. Not only this, British people also started coming to India because of the Portuguese. However, after this Vasco de Gama set out for Malindi, during this journey he reached Ajindeev island on 8 January 1499.

During this time it took them about 3 months to cross the Arabian Sea due to adverse winds and storms. Along with this, many members of his expedition fell into critical illness and died during this period.

On reaching Malindi, the number of his expedition was thus very low, due to which orders were given to burn the São Raffle ship. In this way, Vasco de Gama also buried one of his pedals there. Let me tell you that they reached Mozambique on 1 February where they installed their last Pedro.

Then after that, both Sao Grabriel and Berio separated due to the storm. Berio reached Portugal’s Tragos River on July 10, while São Grabiel continued his journey to Darseira island of the Azores and reached Lisbon on 9 September.

Vasco De Gama’s Second Sea Voyage

In 1502 Vasco de Gama gave the lead of about 10 ships as Admiral. In which there were about 9 fleets for every ship. Continuing its second voyage, the fleet of Vasco de Gama arrived at the Sofala Port in East Africa on 14 June 1502. Then after that, they reached Goa, taking a round of the southern Arabian coast.

At the Kantragor port, north of Calicut, southwestern India, they waited for Arab ships to be looted. In the meantime, after seizing the cargo of the Arab ship laden with goods, he set it on fire. Let us tell you that along with the cargo on this Arabic ship, there were many passengers including women, and children, who died from burning with this ship.

It was the most frightening and heartbreaking illusion of Vasco de Gama’s business life. Vasco de Gama’s expedition proceeded to Calicut after a treaty with the ruler of Kantranor, the enemy of Jamori, the Hindu ruler of Calicut.

At the same time, Jamorin pushed Vasco de Gama into the hands of friendship, but Vasco de Gama turned down his offer and then Vasco de Gama threatened to expel all Muslims from the first port and then fiercely bombed the port. Not only this, but Vasco de Gama also killed about 38 Hindu fishermen who came to sell their goods on the ship.

After this, the Portuguese advanced their expedition and reached the Port of Cochin and made a treaty with the rulers of here who were enemies of Zamorin. The Portuguese then had a war near Calicut, after which they were forced to flee from here and returned to Portugal in 1503 and then returned to India after living there for nearly 20 years.

After this, King John III appointed him as the Portuguese Viceroy of India in 1524. After reaching Goa in September, Vasco de Gama reformed many administrative practices here.

Death of Vasco De Gama

Vasco de Gama suffered from malaria during his third visit to India, due to which he died on 24 May 1524. After this, the body of Vasco de Gama was brought to Portugal. His memorial has also been built in Lisbon from where he started his India tour.

Thus Vasco de Gama’s discovery of sea routes in India opened up many new opportunities for trade in the world, and today it is because of his discovery that trade with sea routes is so easy. Vasco de Gama will always be remembered for his great discovery.

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