Vasco da gama: The search for trade routes Vasco

The search for trade routes Vasco da Gama 's pioneering sea voyage to India is one of the defining moments in the history of exploration. Apart from being one the greatest pieces of European ... Learn about the life and achievements of Vasco da Gama , the Portuguese explorer who opened a direct sea route to India in 1498. Discover his navigational skills, trade and diplomatic missions, conflicts, legacy, and more. The Portuguese nobleman Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed from Lisbon in 1497 on a mission to reach India and open a s... What happened? On 20 th May 1498, two years after he set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, Vasco da Gama arrived on the Western sea coast of India at Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala. This was the first time that a European had arrived in India via the sea. Thus, da Gama is credited with the discovery of the sea route to India. Vasco da Gama ’s Arrival – Background Many sailors and merchants from the west had tried to discover a sea route to India, a land that was famous for spices and other riches ...