A PORTUGUESE VOYAGER AND EXPLORER Vasco Da Gama

Background Vasco da Gama was born into nobility and received an education in mathematics and navigation. Da Gama followed his father into the military like many aristocrats and proved to be an effective leader. He was placed commander of his own fleet of less than 200 men on four vessels and left Libson, the capital of Portugal, in 1497.

Experiences as an Explorer Da Gama’s first voyage was filled with frustration and failure. Many of his crew acquired scurvy and their boats suffered leaks. While stopping in for fresh food and supplies along the coast of East Africa, he unsuccessfully visited Swahili city-states. When he arrived in Calicut, the Hindu ruler did not take kindly to Vasco Da Gama.

Experiences as an Explorer The ruler felt the goods that Da Gama brought to trade were worthless. He was not able to establish a trading agreement. Muslim traders did not like the interference Da Gama caused in trade between India and Europe and refused to trade with them. The ruler took their goods as collateral and imposed a heavy tax after asking them to leave. On his way back from his first voyage, most of his crew died from Scurvy during the long enduring trip. When he finally retuned to Lisbon, he was viewed as a hero and the king rewarded with a large income.

To and From Travelled to Indian on an expedition in 1497 ordered by King Manuel I of Portugal to create direct trading routes between Europe and Asia. Muslims had monopolized trade with India and other Eastern nations. During his first voyage, Da Gama travelled around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and travelled along the Eastern coast and arrived in Calicut in 1498.

Vasco Da Gama’s Journal Most of Vasco Da Gama’s logs were lost and the only account from the voyage was from one of his crew members. “ They came, and when they saw the present they laughed at it, saying this was not a thing to offer to a king.”