One of the most famous navigators, who was originally from Portugal, and the discoverer of the route from Europe to India, is Vasco da Gama, with whom every student is familiar through geography lessons. Being the commander of three expeditions, he was able to make many discoveries, defending the honor of his ships in the open spaces of the water in front of pirates and other ill-wishers. For his achievements, he was awarded numerous awards and titles.

Origin and childhood

The future navigator was born in 1460. In a short biography of Vasco da Gama, you can also find another version, which indicates that the traveler was born in 1469. His father was a Portuguese knight and member of the Order of Santiago (Estevan da Gama), and his mother was a housewife (Isabelle Sodre). Sir Estevan's duties included overseeing the execution of orders in the city entrusted to him. Vasco was the third child in the family and was friends with older brothers, one of whom (Paulo) also took part in swimming.

Although the genus da Gama was not the richest and noblest in the kingdom, it became famous for its famous ancestors who were close to the royal families during the Renaissance. For example, Alvar Annish, who was the great-grandfather of the future conqueror of India, served King Afonso III, was a glorious fighter and knight. This title was inherited by his descendants.

From childhood, da Gama was fond of geography and sea travel. While studying at school, he became interested in the basics of navigation. This passion was the impetus for further discoveries, and the skills came in handy when making maps.

Young years and early successes

At the age of 20, da Gama, along with his brothers, entered the Order of Santiago. Little information about the traveler's education has been preserved in the available sources. Scientists suggest that he received mathematical, navigational and astronomical knowledge in Evora, and Abraham Zacuto was one of his teachers.

As a young man, he took an active part in naval battles. Of course, opening the way to India is not the only achievement of the great navigator. For the first time, as a military man and conqueror of the seas, he succeeded in 1492. It is hard to overestimate what Vasco da Gama did at that time for his country. He managed to capture the French ships, which took possession of the Portuguese caravel, which was transporting a large amount of jewelry and gold from Guinea. It was then that in Portugal for the first time the name of the discoverer of the sea route to India began to sound on the lips of local residents.

The forerunners of the discoverer

During the Renaissance, Portugal was going through hard times. New sea routes that would help develop trade relations with other states did not open, because the country was exhausted by the Reconquista and the war with Castile. A variety of spices, precious metals and stones had to be bought at a fabulous price, because of this, the country's economy suffered.

Due to its convenient geographical location, Portuguese sailors were still able to open new trade routes on the coast of Africa. The first attempts were made by Henry the Navigator, who had to explore all the coastal territories of the Black Continent, from where various provisions and labor were later brought. Despite the creation of many African strongholds, the researchers failed to reach the equator.

Another wave of interest in expeditions to the southern coasts arose in 1470. Then a theory was created about reaching the desired India with its riches. According to travelers, this could be done by going around Africa. The main achievement of that time belonged to Bartolomeo Dias, who discovered the Cape of Good Hope.

Preparing for a trip to India

The first preparations for the expedition began in 1945, when Manuel I became the ruler of Portugal. The preparations consisted in building ships that could go around the entire African continent. As a result, four strong ships were built:

• Flagship of the San Gabriel. Goncalo Alvaris took command.
• A ship with three masts, the San Rafael, captained by Paulo da Gama.
• Light maneuverable caravel "Berriu" under the command of Nicolau Coelho.
• Supply ship. Goncalo Nunisha was appointed commander.

The team was complete, and at her disposal were detailed maps, clear navigational coordinates and modern (at that time) instruments. The chief navigator of the expedition was Peru Alenquer, who accompanied Bartolomeo Dias on his journey to the Cape of Good Hope. The crew also included translators. The holds of the ships were filled with various products (cereals, corned beef, vegetables, dried fruits, cheese, etc.) and drinks, the sailors caught fish during the journey.

Since sailors often had to deal with pirates and enemy fleets, the crew had at their disposal powerful halberds, crossbows, blades, pikes and other weapons, as well as protective suits.

First voyage to India

The Portuguese armada sailed from the coast of Lisbon on July 8, 1497. You can paint Vasco da Gama's journey to India endlessly, because the ships had to go through many trials on the way to the goal. The chronology of events can be summarized briefly:

The envoys of the Portuguese king were received without special honors, it was very difficult to conduct a dialogue with the Indians. Vasco da Gama tried to negotiate trade relations and even presented gifts to the overseas ruler. The disillusioned navigator took by force some of the Indian jewels, provisions, slaves and fishermen.

The crew, which suffered heavy losses, returned to Portugal in September 1499. Some sources say that the opening date of the sea route to India falls on August. Many sailors died of various diseases, two ships were wrecked and burned during the voyage, but the total cost of goods brought from India met all expectations. The amount from their sale exceeded the cost of the expedition by 60 times.

Second and third expedition

After returning from the first trip, the discoverer was awarded the title "don" and received a pension from the king of 1,000 crusades. The navigator turned out to be an ambitious and ambitious person, so he achieved the title of "Admiral of the Indian Ocean" and patronage over the city of Sines, for which he was deprived of the status of a knight of the Order of Santiago.

Soon preparations began for the second voyage to the shores of India. During this time, a trade agreement was concluded between the states, allowing the establishment of a trading post on Indian lands. Friendly relations were replaced by a real war, because the expedition led by Pedro Cabral ended in the shelling of Calicut. The purpose of the second voyage of Vasco da Gama (1502-1503) was to deliver even more provisions and jewelry, as well as to subjugate the country.

The cruelty of the navigator was legendary. In the contents of many books and captain's diaries, it was mentioned that, on the orders of da Gama, Arab ships and Indian cities were fired indiscriminately. So he did to Calicut in retaliation for the attack on the Portuguese. The ships were loaded with various spices and other provisions, several artillery ships were left off the coast of India to blockade local cities.

The second expedition was officially declared completed in 1503. The king raised the traveler's salary and pension for his services to the country, but did not reward the ambitious sailor with a new title. In the following years, the navigator was engaged in the development of plans aimed at the colonization of India, for example, the creation of a special police force on the water and the establishment of the post of Viceroy.

In 1519, the discoverer of the sea route from Europe to India received the title of earl and land allotments into your possession. Some time later, the Portuguese ruler João III appoints the traveler viceroy for his incorruptibility and severity. The third expedition led by the conqueror of India took place in 1524.

Traveler's personal life and family

After returning from the first expedition, da Gama married Katharina li Ataidi. The couple had seven children:

The male line of the noble family ended in 1747, when the title of count was transferred to the women of the da Gama family.

In museums, you can find many portraits of the conqueror of India, allowing you to find out what the discoverer of the sea route to India was like. The commemoration of the navigator is read in many statues, monuments, books, films. A prime example of this is:

While on the territory of the Indian city of Kochi, the great navigator Vasco da Gama, the first European who managed to reach the shores of India, died. His life ended on December 24, 1524. The cause of death of the traveler was malaria. The body of the researcher was brought to Portugal only in 1529, now the remains are in the tomb of the monastery monastery of Jeronimos.

Attention, only TODAY!

Finding a sea route to India was a very important task for Portugal. A country located away from the main trade routes of that time could not fully participate in world trade. Exports were small, and the valuable goods of the East had to be bought by the Portuguese at very high prices. At the same time, the geographical position of Portugal was very conducive to discoveries on the western coast of Africa and attempts to find a sea route to the “land of spices”.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias discovered the Cape of Good Hope, circled Africa and entered the Indian Ocean. After that, he had to turn back, as the sailors demanded a return to Portugal. Based on the discoveries of Dias, King João II was about to send a new expedition. However, preparations for it dragged on and got off the ground only after the accession to the throne of Manuel I in 1495.

The head of the new expedition was not Bartolomeu Dias, but Vasco da Gama, who at that time was 28 years old. He was born in the Portuguese seaside town of Sines and belonged to an old aristocratic family. He had at his disposal two heavy ships, the San Gabriel and the San Rafael, a light fast ship, the Berriu, and a transport ship with supplies. The crew of all ships reached 140-170 people.

2 Swimming

The ships passed by the Canary Islands, separated in the fog and gathered at the Cape Verde Islands. The journey was hampered by headwinds. Vasco da Gama turned to the southwest and, a little before reaching Brazil, thanks to a fair wind, managed to reach the Cape of Good Hope in the most convenient way. On November 22, the flotilla rounded the cape and entered unfamiliar waters.

At Christmas, the ships entered the bay, which was called the Harbor of Christmas (port of Natal). At the end of January 1498, the expedition reached the mouth of the Zambezi River, where it stayed for about a month, repairing ships.

Moving further along the east coast of Africa, the Portuguese reached Mozambique on 2 March. Here began the territories controlled by the Arabs. Vasco da Gama had enough interpreters, so that the further navigation took place along a route that was quite understandable for the Portuguese: they knew the distances, the main ports where they had to stop.

3 India

In a wealthy Somali city, Melinda Gama managed to negotiate with the sheikh, and he provided him with a pilot. With his help, the expedition reached India in May 1498. The ships stopped at the city of Calicut (Kozhikode). The local ruler - zamorin - cordially received the ambassador of the Portuguese captain. However, Gama sent gifts to the ruler that had no value, relations between him and the ruler cooled, and the situation in the city, on the contrary, escalated to the limit. Muslim merchants turned the townspeople against the Portuguese. The ruler did not give Vasco da Gama permission to establish a trading post.

On August 9, before leaving, da Gama turned to the Zamorin with a letter, in which he recalled the promise to send an embassy to Portugal and asked him to send several bags of spices as a gift to the king. However, the ruler of Calicut in response demanded payment of customs duties. He ordered the arrest of several Portuguese, accusing them of espionage. In turn, Vasco da Gama took hostage several noble Calicutians who visited the courts. When the Zamorin returned the Portuguese and part of the goods, Vasco da Gama sent half of the hostages ashore, and took the rest with him. On August 30, the squadron set off on its return journey.

The way back was not easy. On January 2, 1499, the sailors of da Gama saw the Somali port of Mogadishu. In September 1499, Vasco da Gama returned to his homeland a hero, although he lost two ships and two-thirds of the crew, including his beloved brother Paulo.

4 Second voyage to India. departure

Immediately after the opening of the sea route to India, the Portuguese kingdom began to organize annual expeditions there. An expedition in 1500, led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, concluded a trade agreement with the Zamorin of Calicut and established a trading post there. But the Portuguese came into conflict with the Arab merchants of Calicut, the trading post was burned, and Cabral sailed out of the city, firing at him with cannons.

Vasco da Gama was again appointed head of a new large expedition, equipped after the return of Cabral. Part of the flotilla (15 ships out of 20) left Portugal in February 1502.

5 Swimming

Beyond the equator, probably for the purpose of reconnaissance, Gama went, not moving far from land, along the coasts of Arabia and North-West India to the Gulf of Cambay, and from there turned south.

At Kannanur, Gama's ships attacked an Arab ship sailing from Jeddah (the harbor of Mecca) to Calicut with valuable cargo and 400 passengers, mostly pilgrims. Having plundered the ship, Gama ordered the sailors to lock the crew and passengers in the hold, among whom were many old men, women and children, and the bombardiers to set fire to the ship.

6 India

Having made an alliance with the ruler of Kannanur, Gama moved a flotilla against Calicut at the end of October. He began by hanging 38 fishermen on yardarms, who offered fish to the Portuguese, and bombarded the city. At night, he ordered to remove the corpses, cut off the heads, arms and legs, dump the bodies into the boat. Gama attached a letter to the boat saying that this would be the fate of all citizens if they resisted. The tide washed the boat and the stumps of the corpses ashore. The next day, Gama again bombarded the city, plundered and burned a cargo ship approaching it. Leaving seven ships to blockade Calicut, he sent two other ships to Kannanur for spices, and with the rest went for the same cargo to Cochin.

After two "victorious" skirmishes near Calicut with Arab ships, Vasco da Gama in February 1503 led the ships back to Portugal, where he arrived in October with a cargo of spices of great value. After this success, Gama's pension and other incomes were significantly increased, and later he received the title of count.

7 Third voyage

In 1505, King Manuel I, on the advice of Vasco da Gama, established the position of Viceroy of India. Successive Francisco d'Almeida and Affonso d'Albuquerque strengthened Portugal's power on Indian soil and in the Indian Ocean with cruel measures. However, after the death of Albuquerque in 1515, his successors began to cope with their tasks much worse, thinking more about personal enrichment.

The king of Portugal, João III, decided to appoint the 54-year-old harsh and incorruptible Vasco da Gama as the second viceroy. In April 1524, the admiral sailed from Portugal. Vasco da Gama was accompanied by two sons - Estevan da Gama and Paulo da Gama.

8 India. Death

Immediately upon his arrival in India, da Gama took firm action against the abuses of the colonial administration. But on December 24, 1524, Vasco da Gama died of malaria in Cochin.

Vasco da Gama- the famous navigator from Portugal, who is most directly related to the era of the great geographical discoveries. During his life, he managed to do a lot of things that allowed him to be preserved in the annals of history. Many people want to know what Vasco da Gama discovered.

In his native Portuguese, the name of this navigator sounds like Vasco da Gama. He lived, according to various sources, from 1460 or 1469, and died almost at the very end of 1524. During this time, he repeatedly sailed to India, thanks to which he gained his fame.

Key facts of the biography

The origin of Vasco was, to some extent, noble. He is the third of the five sons of the knight Estevan de Gama. In addition to himself, his brother, Paulo de Gama, also took part in the famous voyages to India.

Although this surname was not very noble, it still had weight, since some of the ancestors of this family served King Afonso the third, and also showed themselves well in battles with the Moors. It was thanks to these battles that one of the ancestors received the title of knight.

Despite the fact that Vasco da Gama was born in the city of Sines, researchers believe that he received his education in the rather large city of Evora, which is located near Lisbon. It is also believed that one of his teachers was the famous astronomer, the first person to construct an astrolabe from metal, Abraham Ben Shmuel Zacuto.

Even from his youth, Vasco turned his gaze to the open spaces of the sea - he participated in battles, captured French ships by order of the king. It was thanks to these events that the world first heard about the existence of the future famous navigator.

In those days, many people tried to find a sea route to India. The fact is that Portugal did not have convenient routes that would allow it to trade with other countries. Export problems and some other aspects made finding a way the real task of the century. This allows us to understand what Vasco da Gama discovered.

What did Vasco da Gama discover?

The main reason why the name of Vasco da Gama is known to almost everyone, even after so many years, is that he managed to find a sea route to India. Of course, at first people sought to find a route on land - many bright personalities were sent by the king to go around Africa.

By 1487, Peru da Covilhã managed to do what was required of him. He even managed to report it to Portugal. However, around the same period, the favorite son of the king, who was supposed to inherit the throne, died. Deep grief did not give Juan the second opportunity to take up the land route tightly. Fortunately, this allowed Vasco da Gama to act.

By the time the king stopped paying attention to almost everything, much had already been done to prepare for the sea expedition. Bartolomeu Dias, who knew the route around Africa, on the orders of Juan, gave the team all the information about what kind of vessel is required to sail in such waters. As a result, Vasco da Gama's expedition had four ships at its disposal:

• san gabriel,
• San Rafael, on which the navigator's brother, Paul, was located,
• Berriu,
• Supply ship.

In addition to water and provisions, a fairly large number of weapons were loaded onto the ships, including blades, pikes, crossbows and halberds. In addition, part of the crew had protective leather breastplates, and the highest ranks wore metal cuirasses. Falconets and cannons were installed on the ships.

What did Vasco da Gama do on his journey?

The start date of the famous sea expedition to India is considered eighth of July 1497. The ships solemnly left Lisbon and began their long voyage. On November 4, the ships reached the bay, which Vasco named Saint Helena. Here he was wounded by local residents with an arrow in the leg.

By the time the expedition rounded the Cape of Good Hope, the ship carrying supplies had fallen into disrepair, and a significant part of the crew had died of scurvy. This ship was burned, and provisions were distributed among the remaining three.

After that, Vasco da Gama visited Mozambique and Mombasa, where he had a conflict with the local sultan, and then got to Malindi, where he managed to get himself a new local pilot. Thanks to him and the associated monsoons, the ships were brought to the shores of India. May 20, 1498- the day when the expedition reached the desired lands.

Results of the first voyage

So, what and when did Vasco da Gama discover? Thanks to his expedition, by the middle of 1498 he discovered a sea route to India. However, the results of this undertaking were far from being as rosy as the navigator would like.

Initially, the route was sought in order to start international trade, but everything that Vasco brought to Indian lands neither the Zamorirnu nor the ordinary locals liked it. These goods were not sold, and duties and payments led to disputes with the Portuguese. As a result, the disappointed navigator was forced to start the return journey.

This period was especially difficult for the expedition. A lot of troubles and hardships fell on Vasco da Gama and his crew. In the end, only two ships and a very small number of people managed to return. However, this did not prevent the navigator from receiving first the title of Don, and then the Admiral of the Indian Ocean.

Various events took place in Vasco's life after the expedition. He quarreled with the knights of his own order and joined the rival Order of Christ. He then found himself a wife, Catarina di Ataidi, who was the daughter of Alvor, part of the famous Almeida family.

Further voyages

After a relatively successful return to the native lands of Vasco da Gama, voyages to India have become almost annual. They had both positive and negative results, but, in the end, the famous navigator himself made several more expeditions to an exotic country.

The second voyage is determined by 1502-1503, and the third happened much later. This was due to the political situation in Portugal. When Vasco da Gama was already fifty-four years old, João III decided to give him the title of Viceroy. However, in 1524, the third voyage to India began, in which the sons of Gama, Eshtevan and Paul, also participated.

When the navigator arrived at the place, he closely dealt with the issue of abuses in the local administration, but did not manage to achieve any significant results, since On December 24 of the same year, he died of malaria that struck him.. Subsequently, the body was taken back to his native country, and buried in the Lisbon monastery near Santa Maria de Belen.

Vasco da Gama is one of those three great navigators, thanks to whom it became clear to everyone that the Earth is a ball. The names of these pioneers: Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan. With all the greatness of their discoveries, they were completely different people, different personalities, and many researchers agree that, perhaps, Vasco da Gama, was the least likeable of them all. The Portuguese navigator had an unbridled disposition, often bordering on cruelty, was a greedy and despotic person, did not possess and did not even strive to possess diplomatic skills. Although in fairness it must be emphasized that in those days these qualities were not considered such a terrible vice, but rather, on the contrary, betrayed a successful, enterprising, promising person.

Origin

Despite the fact that the name of Vasco da Gama is known to every schoolchild today, it cannot be said that we know everything about the life of the famous traveler. So, for example, even the date of his birth remains in question: some researchers are inclined that it was 1460, others argue that he was born in 1469. One thing is certain - Vasco was born and spent his childhood in the small seaside village of Sines, 160 km south of Lisbon. His family was noble and noble. The father of the future navigator, Estevan da Gama, was the chief judge of the city, and thanks to the military merits of one of his ancestors, he was knighted. And my mother - Isabelle Saudret - came from a family with English roots; according to family legends, their family descended from the knight Frederic Sadly, who ended up in Portugal, accompanying Duke Edmund Langley on a trip.

Family and early years

In total, the family of Estevan da Gama had 5 sons and 1 daughter. It is widely believed among historians that Vasco and his older brother Paulo were bastards, that is, children born before the parents entered into an official marriage. It is quite possible that this circumstance also left its mark on his character, since the position of the illegitimate in those days entailed very serious consequences. So both brothers were tonsured monks precisely because of this - in those days, inheritance did not pass to illegitimate children, therefore, they had to pave the way in life on their own, and tonsure provided an opportunity for a good education. The life of young men turned out to be predetermined, there was no other way.

The most interesting for you!

Some sources report that Vasco's first tonsure took place in 1480. But in order to become a monk, you need to be tonsured three times, which, apparently, did not happen. All researchers of the life of Vasco da Gama agree that he had a good education for that time, was well versed in mathematics, astronomy and navigation. But whether this is connected with the tonsure is not known for certain. Most likely, he studied in the city of Evora.

Early career at court

Since 1480, for some time, all records are interrupted, and none of the researchers can trace the next 12 years of the traveler's life - none of the sources mentions him. His name reappears on the pages of the chronicles only in 1492 - yes Gama at that time was already serving at court, he was 23 years old. The name Vasco is mentioned in connection with the fact that French corsairs captured Portuguese ships loaded with gold. King João II of Portugal ordered the young sailor to return the valuable cargo and take the French ships prisoner. Vasco da Gama successfully and quickly coped with this task, after which they began to talk about the young Portuguese sailor at court.

After King Manuel I succeeded Juan II on the throne, Portugal again began to actively prepare for an expedition to the East. And this event was headed by none other than Vasco da Gama himself. It was not at all easy to sail in the waters of the Indian Ocean previously unknown to Europeans, but as a result, the world's first sea voyage from Europe to India took place.

Merits, awards and ambition

Upon his return to Portugal, Vasco da Gama was awarded every honor: in addition to being a pioneer in India, the king gave him a lifetime pension of 1,000 crusades and assigned the title “don” to his surname, which put him on a par with the royal nobility. But the newly minted don da Gama was not fully satisfied with such an award, he sought his appointment as lord of the city of Sines. Some historians see this as a manifestation of the once hurt pride of the young Vasco, due to the fact of his illegitimate birth. He seemed to want to prove to everyone that he was the most worthy of the worthy.

The king, perhaps, would have taken this step without hesitation, but the Order of Santiago opposed, in whose department the city of Sines was located, despite the fact that Vasco da Gama was listed as a knight of this order. This story ended with the fact that the famous navigator left the Order of Santiago and joined the ranks of its competitors - the Order of Christ. The king, in order to satisfy the sailor's ambition, awarded him the title of "Admiral of the Indian Sea."

The title gave Senor Vasco and his family many privileges and for some time subdued the pride of the famous Portuguese, although his cherished dream of becoming a count has not yet come true. I must say that at the same time, Vasco da Gama finally started a family. He married Catarina di Ataida, a representative of the famous Almeida family, they had seven children - six sons and one daughter.

The second expedition to India, led by Vasco da Gama, set off in 1499. And in October 1503, the navigator returned to his homeland with great success. The king increases his pension. Vasco da Gama becomes incredibly rich, almost on par with the royal family. But they are not in a hurry to hand him the coveted count title, the king is in thought.

Realization of a cherished dream

After waiting for more than one year, Don da Gama goes to blackmail: he writes a letter to the king, in which he announces his intention to leave the country. The calculation was correct - Portugal, after the loss of Columbus and, could not afford to lose Vasco da Gama as well. And then the king, having shown miracles of diplomacy, wrote in response that, they say, how is it, signor da Gama, are you going to leave Portugal, just when you were awarded the title of count? (This letter is preserved in the original).

Thus, the parties came to an agreement. Vasco da Gama finally became Count of Vidigueira (the title was created especially for him) and received his own land holdings. It happened only in 1519. In fairness, it should be noted that, probably, not only ambition moved the famous navigator in pursuit of the county, but also the desire to transfer the title and land to his children and grandchildren.

India: the meaning of life and the place of death

In total, Vasco da Gama visited the "Island of Spice" 3 times in his life, and it was Indian land that became the last refuge for the famous navigator. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1524, during the third expedition to India, da Gama suddenly fell ill and died suddenly in the city of Cochin. In 1539 his ashes were transported to Lisbon.

Despite the inconsistency of many actions that look cruel in the light of today, Vasco da Gama, both during his lifetime and many centuries later, remains a legendary man. In 1998, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the opening of the sea route to India, the Vasco da Gama bridge was built in Lisbon, and today it is the longest in Europe. In honor of Vasco da Gama, a city in Goa, a crater on the moon, one of the Brazilian football clubs is named, and in 2012, the Vasco da Gama gold medal was established for outstanding achievements in the field of geographical sciences.

Vasco da Gama was born in 1469 in the city of Sines, in a noble family of a soldier who faithfully served King João II of Portugal. Vasco da Gama's career as an explorer began after the death of his father, who led an expedition planned to open a sea route to Asia.

Flagship San Gabriel

Vasco da Gama received a team of 170 people and set off from Lisbon on July 7, 1497, with three ships " San Gabriel», « Berrio" and flagship "San Rafael". His task was to find a sea route to India to establish trade relations that would provide Portugal with cheap goods. At that time, goods from Asia entered the European market, thanks to merchants from Venice, Cairo and Alexandria, by overland routes, which turned out to be expensive. Portugal needed its own way.

ship "Batavia"

ship "San Rafael"

The voyage to the Cape of Good Hope was successful. The sea was calm, and the wind was blowing in the right direction for the sailors. But as soon as they rounded Green Cape, a hurricane-force wind with rain fell. Only for a short time the storm subsided, and then began again. All this complicated the progress of the expedition. The supplies of provisions and drinking water were running out. Several sailors died of exhaustion. The crew began to demand to deploy ships and head for Portugal. The exhausted but angry team rebelled. The sailors wanted to shackle Vasco da Gama in chains, but he managed to break free and calm the rebels.

Traveler Vasco da Gama

The ships made a stop off the coast of East Africa near Mozambique to repair the rigging and sails. There, the team began their first trading relationship with the locals. But this did not last long, because due to the hostile attitude of the natives, there were attempts to capture ships. In this regard, the expedition was forced to leave the coast. Soon May 20, 1498 Vasco da Gama finally arrived at the port of Calicut (now Kolkata). This is a city on the east coast of India, where the trade of merchants from two continents - Africa and Hindustan was concentrated. Vasco da Gama showed diplomatic skills during negotiations with the Indian ruler Zatorin. After presenting gifts to the leader, attitudes towards travelers gradually began to change. In addition, goods purchased in Africa had practically no value from the locals. Soon they began to show hostility. Vasco da Gama was imprisoned as a pirate. Having narrowly escaped the death penalty, he was able to collect a rich cargo consisting of precious stones, gold and corals. He finally agreed to conduct trade relations between the Zamorin people and the Portuguese (the ruler really liked the spices). After the ships moved away from the coast of India and headed for Portugal along the coast of Africa. Navigator gradually mapped the outlines of the mainland.

sailors return home

In September 1499, an expedition consisting of two ships and 55 people of an exhausted crew arrived at the port of Lisbon. They were greeted as heroes. And indeed, in addition to the values ​​​​that brought great income to the state economy, Vasco da Gama plotted more than 4,000 km of the African coast on the world map from the mouth of the Great Fish River to the port of Malindi, inscribed his name in world history as the discoverer of the sea trade route from Europe to India.