Portugal has a rich history of exploration and discovery. One of the most famous explorers from Portugal is Vasco da Gama. Born in 1460 in the town of Sines, Vasco da Gama came from a family with strong connections to important orders like the Order of Santiago and the Order of Christ. These connections helped him later in life as he embarked on his journey to India.
During Vasco da Gama’s time, King John II ruled Portugal. He was eager to expand the country’s wealth, especially through trade. While trade with Africa was profitable, King John II wanted more. He aimed to tap into the lucrative spice trade in Asia, which was dominated by the Venetians. To bypass them, he planned to find a sea route to Asia by sailing around Africa.
To make this plan a reality, King John II sent out spies and explorers. Pera da Covilha and Afonso de Paiva were sent overland to gather information about the spice trade, while Captain Bartolomeu Dias sailed to see if a sea route around Africa was possible. Dias succeeded, proving that it was indeed possible to sail around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Asia.
With this new information, King John II chose Vasco da Gama to lead the expedition. On July 8, 1497, da Gama set sail from Lisbon with four ships: the São Gabriel, São Rafael, Berrio, and another unnamed ship, along with 170 crew members. The journey was long and challenging, but da Gama was determined.
The fleet sailed past familiar places like Tenerife and the Cape Verde Islands, eventually reaching Sierra Leone. They continued south, following Dias’s route, and after three months, they reached the African coast. By March 1498, they arrived at Mozambique Island but faced hostility from the locals, forcing them to move on.
After stops in Mombasa and Malindi, where they received a warmer welcome, a local pilot guided them to Calicut in India. They arrived on May 20, 1498. The King of Calicut, known as Zamorin, welcomed them, but the gifts da Gama brought were not impressive. Local traders influenced Zamorin against da Gama, leading to a strained relationship.
Despite the challenges, da Gama’s expedition proved that a sea route to India was possible. However, the return journey was tough due to opposing winds, taking 109 days longer than expected. The Berrio was the first to return to Lisbon on July 10, 1499, followed by the São Gabriel. Unfortunately, only 55 of the original 170 crew members made it back.
Vasco da Gama was celebrated as a hero in Portugal, but he failed to secure a trade agreement with Zamorin. Still, he brought back valuable spices, sparking further interest in trade with India. This led to the creation of the Portuguese India Armadas, annual expeditions along da Gama’s route.
In 1502, da Gama led another expedition to India, determined to succeed. However, his aggressive tactics in Calicut, including bombarding the city, did not win him favor. Despite his efforts, he failed to secure a commercial treaty and left India in 1503.
Although his later actions were controversial, Vasco da Gama’s first voyage was a turning point in history. It opened up new trade routes and marked the beginning of a new era of exploration for Portugal and Europe. His journey to India remains one of the most significant achievements in the age of exploration.
Using a world map, trace Vasco da Gama’s route from Portugal to India. Mark key locations such as Lisbon, Cape Verde, Mozambique Island, and Calicut. Discuss with your classmates the challenges he might have faced at each stop and how these locations were significant to his journey.
In groups, create a short play that reenacts a part of Vasco da Gama’s voyage. You can choose to depict the departure from Lisbon, the encounter at Mozambique Island, or the arrival in Calicut. Focus on the interactions between the crew and the locals, and consider the emotions and motivations of each character.
Set up a classroom activity where you simulate the spice trade. Assign roles such as Portuguese explorers, Indian traders, and Venetian merchants. Use tokens to represent spices and negotiate trade deals. Reflect on the importance of spices and how they influenced global exploration.
Choose a topic related to Vasco da Gama’s journey, such as the role of the Order of Santiago, the significance of the Cape of Good Hope, or the impact of the Portuguese India Armadas. Prepare a short presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting how these elements contributed to the success of the expedition.
Participate in a classroom debate about Vasco da Gama’s legacy. Divide into two groups: one arguing that his voyages were a positive force for global trade and exploration, and the other highlighting the negative impacts on local populations and cultures. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments.
Portugal, throughout history, has been known for many things. From the Iberian Union to the settling of the Azores and Madeira to the colonization of Brazil, the Portuguese have demonstrated a variety of skills over the centuries, particularly in exploration.
The story of Vasco da Gama serves as a notable example. Vasco da Gama was born in the town of Sines in 1460 to Estevao de Gama and Isabel Sodre. Estevao was a member of the Order of Santiago and a prominent local figure, while Vasco’s mother’s family was connected to the Order of Christ and was well-connected. Although we don’t know much about Vasco’s childhood, we do know that he initially decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Order of Santiago, which would prove beneficial later on.
At this time, John II of Portugal had become king and had a growing fondness for the Order. He also took a particular liking to Vasco da Gama, which opened doors for him as an explorer. One of John II’s top priorities was expanding the royal treasury. Trade throughout Africa had been profitable for the Portuguese, but it was not enough to satisfy the monarch. John had his sights set on Asia and the lucrative spice trade that other Europeans were already exploiting. However, the spice trade was dominated by the Venetians, who had established their own routes for transporting goods. John began to think creatively about how to bypass the Venetians, ultimately deciding to find a route to Asia by sailing around the African continent.
This is where Vasco da Gama came into play. First, the king sent out preparations. Two spies, Pera da Covilha and Afonso de Paiva, would take an overland trip to gather information on the spice trade to India, while Captain Bartolomeu Dias would sail to confirm whether John’s ambitions were feasible. Fortunately for the eager monarch, Dias successfully sailed around the Cape of Good Hope, reaching Fish River and confirming that there was indeed a navigable sea route around Africa to India.
Now, King John II needed an explorer, and Vasco da Gama was his choice. On July 8, 1497, he set sail with a fleet of four ships—the São Gabriel, São Rafael, Berrio, and an unknown ship—totaling 170 crewmen from Lisbon. The voyage included experienced navigators such as Afonso Gonçalves, João de Coimbra, Pero de Alenquer, and Pedro Escobar. The journey would be challenging and lengthy, but King John had sent only the best.
The first leg of the trip took them through familiar waters, passing by Tenerife and the Cape Verde Islands, eventually reaching Sierra Leone. From there, the fleet sailed south across the Equator, attempting to follow the path Dias had taken earlier. After three months and 6,000 miles, they briefly landed on the African coast before continuing on Dias’s assumed route.
By the first week of March 1498, the expedition reached Mozambique Island. After a short stay, hostility from the locals forced da Gama and his fleet to continue their journey, departing with cannon fire as a dramatic exit. Next, they arrived at the port of Mombasa the following month but were met with aggression again and left quickly. Instead of Mombasa, da Gama chose to stay for about a week in Malindi, where he and his men received a warmer welcome. They arrived on April 14 and departed on April 24, finishing the final leg of their journey with the help of a knowledgeable local pilot who guided them to Calicut.
The expedition finally made landfall near Calicut at Kappadu on May 20, 1498. Upon learning of their arrival, the King of Calicut, or Zamorin, returned from Ponnani to meet his foreign visitors. The Portuguese were greeted with kindness, but their gifts were deemed unsatisfactory, and local Muslim traders influenced Zamorin against da Gama, who had stated that he and his men were in search of “Christians and spices.” The relationship between da Gama and Zamorin quickly soured, and the Portuguese left India on August 29, somewhat disappointed.
Nevertheless, the expedition had achieved its primary goal: it was now confirmed that India could be reached by sea around Africa. However, da Gama was eager to return home, which proved to be even more difficult than the journey to India due to opposing monsoon winds. The return trip across the Indian Ocean took an additional 109 days compared to the outward journey. The Berrio was the first ship to reach Lisbon on July 10, 1499, followed shortly by the São Gabriel. Da Gama himself arrived in late August, having stayed with his ill brother on Santiago Island while his ship was sent back to Lisbon by João de Sá. Unfortunately, the other two ships never made it home, and only 55 of the 170 crewmen returned.
Da Gama was hailed as a hero in Portugal, and his achievement was celebrated. However, there was a clear shortcoming in his journey—he failed to secure a commercial treaty with the King of Calicut. Nonetheless, he managed to bring back some Indian spices and goods, which kept the crown’s interest in trade opportunities alive. This led to the establishment of the Portuguese India Armadas.
The Portuguese India Armadas became an annual event, sailing along da Gama’s new route, known as the India Run. The second expedition was launched in 1500 under Pedro Álvares Cabral, aiming to secure a treaty with Zamorin, but this too ended in failure due to armed conflict. By 1502, during the fourth India Armada, da Gama insisted on leading the charge himself. This was accepted, and he was determined to complete his mission and gain the upper hand over Zamorin.
When the fleet returned to Calicut, Zamorin was open to negotiating a commercial treaty, but da Gama was focused on avenging his previous failure. When his demands for the expulsion of all Muslims from Calicut were denied, he and his men resorted to violence, bombarding the unfortified city for two days and committing acts of aggression against local vessels. Zamorin attempted to retaliate by sea, but his navy was quickly defeated by the well-prepared Portuguese.
Despite this, da Gama seemed to prioritize his personal agenda over that of the Portuguese crown. In 1503, the fleet left Calicut for home, having failed once again to secure a commercial treaty, leaving behind only a small portion of the fleet to continue hostilities against the kingdom.
This miscalculation marked the decline of da Gama’s status as a Portuguese hero. His later life was relatively uneventful. He was eventually named Count of Vidigueira and Viceroy after several unsuccessful attempts to regain the king’s favor. Da Gama made one final journey to India in 1524, where he contracted malaria and passed away on Christmas Eve of that year.
Despite the controversies surrounding his actions during his second expedition, there is no doubt that Vasco da Gama’s first voyage played a crucial role in shaping the future of Portuguese trade and European exploration as a whole. Among the many contributions of the Portuguese nation throughout history, Vasco da Gama’s work in the Indian Ocean stands out as one of the most significant.
Vasco da Gama – A Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia through an ocean route. – Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India marked a significant milestone in the Age of Exploration.
Portugal – A country in southwestern Europe, known for its maritime exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. – Portugal played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery, establishing a sea route to India.
Trade – The exchange of goods and services between countries or regions. – The spice trade was a major factor in the exploration of new sea routes to Asia.
India – A country in South Asia, known for its rich history and as a major destination for European explorers seeking spices and other goods. – Vasco da Gama’s arrival in India opened new opportunities for trade between Europe and Asia.
Exploration – The act of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. – The Age of Exploration led to the discovery of new lands and sea routes.
Spice – Aromatic substances used to flavor food, which were highly sought after in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. – The demand for spices like pepper and cinnamon drove European nations to explore new trade routes.
Journey – An act of traveling from one place to another, often involving a long distance. – Vasco da Gama’s journey to India was perilous but ultimately successful.
Africa – The second largest continent, which was a key region in the maritime routes explored by Europeans. – Vasco da Gama’s route to India involved sailing around the southern tip of Africa.
Zamorin – The title of the ruler of Calicut, an important trading city on the southwest coast of India during the time of Vasco da Gama. – The Zamorin of Calicut welcomed Vasco da Gama when he first arrived in India.
Legacy – Something handed down by a predecessor, often referring to the lasting impact of historical events or figures. – The legacy of Vasco da Gama’s voyages is evident in the enduring trade connections between Europe and Asia.
