Vasco da Gama led the first European voyage to directly reach India in 1497-1499. Sailing under King Manuel I of Portugal, da Gama's expedition established the first oceanic trade route between Europe and Asia, bypassing the Middle East. Upon returning to Portugal, da Gama loaded his ships with valuable spices and helped make Lisbon a center of European spice trade for centuries. However, da Gama also used violence against Arab and Indian ships and settlements, leaving the Portuguese with a poor reputation in the region.

1. Vasco da Gama’s Voyage

2. Before the Voyage Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese explorer, discovered Cape of Good Hope in 1488 under John II John II ordered voyage to find a route to the Indies Spurred by discoveries of Christopher Columbus and feared Spain might reach the Indies first and discover their riches John II died and succeeded by Manuel I in 1495, before the voyage set out Manuel I appointed Vasco da Gama head of the exploration

3. Facts Born c. 1469 in Sines, Portugal Father was an explorer Set out for direct route to Indies in 1497 Patron was King Manuel I of Portugal Trip thought to be impossible by some because they believed there was no other sea connected to the Indian Ocean Left on July 8, 1497 from Lisbon Sailed with four vessels Sailed around Cape of Good Hope on November 22 Reached Calicut, India on May 20, 1498

4. Map

5. Spices

6. After the Voyage Loaded ships with spices and returned to Portugal in September 1499 Lost brother to scurvy on the way home Manuel I then sent out Pedro Cabral to India to follow up the discoveries of da Gama Massacre of those stationed with Cabral occurred Da Gama sent to avenge the act On the way da Gama attacked Arab Muslim ships mercilessly One ship he sunk contained 400 men, women, and children on their way back from a pilgrimage to Mecca When he arrived in Calicut he violently treated the Indians and left for Portugal with a large cargo of spices His useless cruelty left Portuguese with a bad name for generations 1524 sent back to India as a viceroy to correct the corruption of the Portuguese that was occurring Three months after he arrived, he died

7. Da Gama’s Legacy By establishing the Portuguese sea route to India he made Lisbon the center of the European Spice trade Laid the foundation of the Portuguese Empire which controlled trade with the ports of East Africa, southwest India, and Indonesia for centuries