Question: Write about Vasco da Gama?
Ans: Vasco da Gama was born in
(1460/1469) in ‘Sines’ of Portugal kingdom. Isabel Sodre and Estevao da Gama
were his parents.
Vasco da Gama was the first European to discover sea route
to India. In 1453, Turks occupied Constantinople. This abstructed European
trade with East through land route. To find sea route to India, Henry, Prince
of Portugal, established a Naval Academy. Daring sailors were trained in the school.
With the encouragement of John II, the descendant of Henry, a navigator named
Bartolomeu Dias, in 1487, reached southern tip of Africa and named it Cape of
Good Hope.
As Emmanuel, the ruler of Portugal, was a close relative to
Vasco da Gama, he encouraged Vasco da Gama to discover sea route to Eastern
Countries. Vasco Da Gama followed the route of Bartolomeu Dias and started his
voyage from Lisbon sea port, in the year 1497. Gama reached southwest part of
sea of Africa, crossed Cape of Good Hope, from there he reached Mozambique,
travelled in Indian Ocean and finally with the help of Abdul Mazid of Gujarath,
Vasco Da Gama reached Calicut on 17th May 1498. Thus Portuguese
successfully discovered sea route to India. This incident changed the course of
not only India but the whole world.
Vasco Da Gama had received a hearty hospitality from
Zamorin, King of Calicut. Gama’s gifts could not impress Zamorin. People of
Calicut and Arab merchants suspected Vasco Da Gama as a pirate as he had no
gold or silver with him. At the same time Vasco Da Gama had to face the enmity
of Arabs who already had trade relations with Zamorin. On the way he lost half
of his crew and his brother due to bad weather. Vasco Da Gama returned with
little spices in his ship. Vasco Da Gama returned without making any trade
agreement with Zamorin, but he was honored with the title of Dom (king) and was
given a fief for discovering route to Eastern Countries. On his second voyage, Vasco Da Gama defeated
Arab merchants, bombed the city of Calicut, along with Arab Merchants, Gama
burnt alive the pilgrims of Mecca including some women and children. Gama cut
the ears and nose of ambassador of Zamorin and stitched the ears of dog to his
head.
Vasco Da Gama returned without completely defeating Zamorin.
Vasco Da Gama left some army at Calicut for the protection of Portuguese
factories. Portuguese forts were constructed at Calicut, Kochin, and Kangranur.
Vasco Da Gama died on 24 December 1524.
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