Vasco Da Gama The Story

Vasco Da Gama   

Introduction

Vasco Da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal, around 1450. In 1497, he was sent on a mission by the Portuguese king to find a maritime route to the East.His success in doing so proved to be one of the more instrumental moments in the history of navigation. Afterwards, he made two other voyages to India, and was appointed as Portuguese viceroy in India in 1524.

Early Years
Explorer Vasco Da Gama was born in a noble family in the Sines, Portugal. Little is known about his education except that he was the third son of Estevao Da Gama, who was commander in the fortress of Sines in the southwestern pocket of Portugal. When he was old enough, young Vasco Da Gama joined the navy which teaches you how to navigate.

First Expedition

Historians know about why exactlyVasco Da Gama, still an inexperience explorer, was chosen to lead the expedition to India 1497. On July 8 of that year, he captained a team of four vessels including his flagship, the 200-ton St. Gabriel to find a better route to India and the East.

Second Expedition

When Vasco Da Gama returned to Lisbon, he was greeted as a hero. In an effort to secure The trade route with India and usurp Muslim traders, Portugal dispatched another team of vessels, headed by Pedro Alvares Cabral. The crew reached India in six months, and the expedition included a firefight with Muslim merchants, where Cabral's men killed 600 men on Muslim cargo vessels. More important for his home country Cabral established the first Portuguese trading post in India.

Later Years

Married at this time, Vasco Da Gama became the father of six sons and the husband of a woman. He maintain contact with King Manuel, advising him with Indian matters and was named count of Vidigueira in 1519. Late in life, after the death of King Manuel, Vasco Da Gama was asked to return to India, in an effort to contend      with the growing corruption from Portuguese officials in the country.

That same year, Vasco Da Gama died in Cochin, He was sent back to Portugal and was buried there.