Vasco+da+Gama



  Vasco da Gama ﻿   Vasco da Gama was born in 1460 in Sines, Portugal. He is best known for discovering the way around Africa to India and back. He was a very brave and courageous explorer.

Not much is known about Vasco da Gama’s early life. But the Nobiliario of Antonio de lima said he came from a noble family. At the time, King Manuel I chose him to lead the expedition to India he was a gentleman at the court in Portugal. On July 8,1497, four ships named the Sao Gabriel which Vasco da Gama was on, the Sao Rafael, the Berrio, and a store ship left Lisbon.They reached the Cape of Good Hope on November 22, 1497. On December 25, 1497, da Gama found Natal. It was 60 days until they saw land.

The navigators included Portugal's most experienced, Pero de Alenquer, Pedro Escobar, Joao de Coimbra, and Afonso Goncalves. It was 60 days until any of the men saw land. But da Gama didn’t give up and opened up the see route to India.

On August 29, 1498, he returned back to Portugal. It took him 23 days to get back. On this voyage about half of the crew died mostly from scurvy. Also, when he returned King Manuel I gave him the the title Lord. But his achievements didn’t seem as good when he failed to bring any spices or items to trade that interested the Indians.

On his second voyage he helped with trading settlements along the coast of Africa. As he was heading back it took him three times as long to get back because of the terrible winds. Da Gama finally reached Lisbon in 1503, he was named Admiral of the Indian Sea because of his bravery and his courageous navigation skills.

In 1519, he was named Count of Vidigueira in India and was rewarded greatly by the Government. A few years later he sailed again to Cochin. He died after he arrived in December, 1524. He is remembered for being the first European to reach India by sea and back.

Vasco da Gama