| In 1497 four years after Christopher Columbus returned The Portuguese Sailor/Explorer, Vasco Da Gama set off in the other direction east. Vasco Da Gama's goal was to sail around Africa to India. His four ships finally reached The Cape of good hope in early November. Gale winds were making it hard for the three ships Vasco Da Gama used shock treatment to control the terrified crew. As a result of this Da Gama threw the ships charts into the sea saying this to his men & I quote " I do not need a navigator because God alone is our master." Da Gama made clear there was no turning back. Vasco Da Gama sailed up right through to Africa's easten coast stopping to trade cheap trinkets with coastal people. |