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Vasgo da Gama was a Portuguese who
lived at the same time as Christopher Columbus, but he was luckier than
Columbus. He did not
have long years of waiting, or have to go from one king to another in search of help and money for his travels. The King of Portugal had a son, Henry, who was very interestd in voyages of discovery. He tuaght sailors and fishermen how to guide their ships by following the position of
the stars. He sent ships along the coast of Africa to discover new lands and islands. Very little was known about Africa, and a Portuguese sea captain was the first European to reach the south tip of the country. He came back to Portugal with the news that he had seen a great Cape
where the weather was terribly stormy. He thought it should be called the Cape of Storms, but the King of Portugal said it should be called
"The Cape of Good Hope".
Vasco da Gama was an educated and clever sailor, and he was brought to notice of the King of Portugal, who promised him ships and
money for the voyage to India round the newly discovered Cape of Good Hope. In 1497, he set out on the voyage. The journey south to the
Cape was always dangerous and long, because the ships often met south winds which blew them back towards Spain. Da Gama, as well as
being clever sailor, was a brave and adventurous man. He studied the movements of the winds and decided not to sail close to African coast.
He sailed far out into the South Atlantic, and then turned round to dsail to Cape of Good Hope. His guess had been right. He had missed
the strong south winds, and was now blown towards Africa by winds from the north-west, blowing the boat in the right direction.
At last he came to a town called Malindi, where he met some Indian merchants. These men carrid beautiful silks and rare spices in their
ships, and gold and silver and all the riches of the East. India was certainly a wonderful place for trade, and Vasco da Gama decided he must get there as soon as possible. The Indian merchants had never seen anyone like these Portuguese, with their strange, white bearded faces and their funny clothes. But they were helpful and friendly, and they promised to let da Gama have one of their sailorss, who knew the way across the Indian Ocean and would guide thire ships safely over.
Vasco da Gama stayed a little time in Malindi, having his ship repaired and the sails mended. They had been badly torn in the rough weather round the Cape of Good Hope. When all ready, they left Africa and sailed east across the sea. The voyage took them twenty-three days, but at
last they saw high South Indian hills, and landed on the Malabar coast near to the place where Kozhikode now stands.
The Indian had never seen white men before, but they were kind and friendly and took Vasco da Gama to see their ruler, the Zamorin.
Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal with his ship filled with silks and spices. In return for these, hwe gave the Zamorin in thing which the Indian did not have at that time, like iron, knives and mirrors.
Like Columbus's first voyage across the Atlantic, Vasco da Gama's first voyage to India was very important. He proved that it was possible
to reach India by sailling round Africa. He had also learned a great deal about monsoon winds and tides, and the knowledge was of the greatest importance in thoes days of sailing ships. He made two more voyages to India, and died in Cochin in 1524. Other Portuguese sea captains soon followed his example, and a rich and useful trade was started between Europe and the East.
have long years of waiting, or have to go from one king to another in search of help and money for his travels. The King of Portugal had a son, Henry, who was very interestd in voyages of discovery. He tuaght sailors and fishermen how to guide their ships by following the position of
the stars. He sent ships along the coast of Africa to discover new lands and islands. Very little was known about Africa, and a Portuguese sea captain was the first European to reach the south tip of the country. He came back to Portugal with the news that he had seen a great Cape
where the weather was terribly stormy. He thought it should be called the Cape of Storms, but the King of Portugal said it should be called
"The Cape of Good Hope".
Vasco da Gama was an educated and clever sailor, and he was brought to notice of the King of Portugal, who promised him ships and
money for the voyage to India round the newly discovered Cape of Good Hope. In 1497, he set out on the voyage. The journey south to the
Cape was always dangerous and long, because the ships often met south winds which blew them back towards Spain. Da Gama, as well as
being clever sailor, was a brave and adventurous man. He studied the movements of the winds and decided not to sail close to African coast.
He sailed far out into the South Atlantic, and then turned round to dsail to Cape of Good Hope. His guess had been right. He had missed
the strong south winds, and was now blown towards Africa by winds from the north-west, blowing the boat in the right direction.
At last he came to a town called Malindi, where he met some Indian merchants. These men carrid beautiful silks and rare spices in their
ships, and gold and silver and all the riches of the East. India was certainly a wonderful place for trade, and Vasco da Gama decided he must get there as soon as possible. The Indian merchants had never seen anyone like these Portuguese, with their strange, white bearded faces and their funny clothes. But they were helpful and friendly, and they promised to let da Gama have one of their sailorss, who knew the way across the Indian Ocean and would guide thire ships safely over.
Vasco da Gama stayed a little time in Malindi, having his ship repaired and the sails mended. They had been badly torn in the rough weather round the Cape of Good Hope. When all ready, they left Africa and sailed east across the sea. The voyage took them twenty-three days, but at
last they saw high South Indian hills, and landed on the Malabar coast near to the place where Kozhikode now stands.
The Indian had never seen white men before, but they were kind and friendly and took Vasco da Gama to see their ruler, the Zamorin.
Vasco da Gama returned to Portugal with his ship filled with silks and spices. In return for these, hwe gave the Zamorin in thing which the Indian did not have at that time, like iron, knives and mirrors.
Like Columbus's first voyage across the Atlantic, Vasco da Gama's first voyage to India was very important. He proved that it was possible
to reach India by sailling round Africa. He had also learned a great deal about monsoon winds and tides, and the knowledge was of the greatest importance in thoes days of sailing ships. He made two more voyages to India, and died in Cochin in 1524. Other Portuguese sea captains soon followed his example, and a rich and useful trade was started between Europe and the East.