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Vasco Da Gama, a Portuguese traveller was the first to discover the sea route to India, on May 20, 1498. He arrived in Calicut, present-day Kozhikode, and became the first to establish a lucrative trade through the sea in India. This journey was the first documented expedition from 1495 to 1499, under King Manuel I, recorded officially through the cape. The Portuguese got a hold of parts of Kerala and the Indian Ocean through this expedition. This is one of the key works done in the Age of Exploration.
The Trip to India
- The king of Portuguese John II created a cost-cutting plan on the Cape Route to build a spice trade with Asia.
- He did not only want to build the trade but to increase the kingdom of Portugal for a powerful maritime presence.
Also Read- Important Notes on the Advent of Europeans in India
- King Manuel I, the successor of John II asked Vasco Da Gama to lead the way and follow the previous unfulfilled strategy.
- This is how they discovered the sea route to India.
Also Read- Arrival of the East India Company and Its Expansion
About Vasco Da Gama
Vasco Da Gama is a true vagabond known for being the first to sail from Europe to India by rounding Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
| Name | Vasco da Gama |
| Born | c. 1460, Sines, Portugal |
| Died | December 24, 1524, Cochin, India |
| Notable Voyages | 1497–99, 1502–03, 1524 |
| Significance | Opened up the sea route from western Europe to the East via the Cape of Good Hope |
| Famed Bridge | Vasco da Gama Bridge |
| Location | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Length | 17.2 km (10.7 miles) |
| Inauguration Year | 1998 |
| Status | Longest bridge in Europe at the time of inauguration |
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