Three themes (how, where, why) of Vasco da Gama's expedition
Vasco da Gama's exploration did not start very smoothly because some people disagreed with the journey. They thought Indian Ocean was not connected to any other seas. Therefore, they thought it would not be possible for da Gama to explore. However, in 1487, Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguses explorer, found out that the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean were actually connected, which led to the start of da Gama's exploration. Prince Henry also supported his exploration by working with a group of mapmakers, geographers, astronomers, and navigators. Da Gama had sailed twice to India because of two reasons (Winser).
Vasco da Gama left for India on July 8, 1497 with four ships and about 170 sailors with the aim of finding a direct trade route to India. Luckily, da Gama took the privilege of the monsoon wind and reached India in less than a year ("Vasco Da Gama Facts"). He made few stops along Africa, which caused some troubles with the Muslim traders who did not want any other people to interfere with their already profitable trade routes. With the help of Prince Henry's support of navigational instruments, such as a compass, an astrolabe, and a compass rose, Da Gama's exploration became more efficient ("Vasco Da Gama"). Also, three experienced pilots, Pedro de Alemquer, Joao de Coimbra, and Pero de Escolar, helped da Gama's first expedition by sailing the ships. After all, he brought back Asian products and spices by trading them for trinkets. However, Indians were not very satisfied with the goods he was offering them, which strained the relationship between the two countries. When he sailed back to Portugal, he was left with two ships and only 54 sailors survived while most of them were dead from scurvy (Szalay). Scurvy is a disease that is caused by lack of vitamin C ("Scurvy"). Therefore, da Gama realized he needed more sailors and ships to obtain more goods from India.
Da Gama's second voyage was carried out in 1502, and he took 20 ships and 400 passengers with him. His main goal for this journey was to enforce Portuguese interests in the East. He also went to claim land in India during his second expedition. During his journey to India, he killed hundreds of Muslims to show their power over the trade route ("Vasco da Gama - A Portuguese Explorer"). The second time he arrived in India, merchants there were not willing to trade because of the inadequate good, trinkets, he offered in the first place. Then, he tried to force the rulers and merchants to trade by using his canons ("Vasco Da Gama Biography"). After all, he brought back silk, gold, and enforcement of their settlement in India ("Vasco da Gama - A Portuguese Explorer). Eventually, he captured Goa, a port city on India's west coast in 1510 and developed the area to be the capital of their trading empire ("Beck 533"). Then, the trade of spices increased in Portugal, which led to a positive impact to the economy. In February 1503, Vasco da Gama left Cochin and on his return to Portugal, he established a trading posts in Mozambique, which later became a colonized country to the Portuguese (Szalay).
Vasco da Gama left for India on July 8, 1497 with four ships and about 170 sailors with the aim of finding a direct trade route to India. Luckily, da Gama took the privilege of the monsoon wind and reached India in less than a year ("Vasco Da Gama Facts"). He made few stops along Africa, which caused some troubles with the Muslim traders who did not want any other people to interfere with their already profitable trade routes. With the help of Prince Henry's support of navigational instruments, such as a compass, an astrolabe, and a compass rose, Da Gama's exploration became more efficient ("Vasco Da Gama"). Also, three experienced pilots, Pedro de Alemquer, Joao de Coimbra, and Pero de Escolar, helped da Gama's first expedition by sailing the ships. After all, he brought back Asian products and spices by trading them for trinkets. However, Indians were not very satisfied with the goods he was offering them, which strained the relationship between the two countries. When he sailed back to Portugal, he was left with two ships and only 54 sailors survived while most of them were dead from scurvy (Szalay). Scurvy is a disease that is caused by lack of vitamin C ("Scurvy"). Therefore, da Gama realized he needed more sailors and ships to obtain more goods from India.
Da Gama's second voyage was carried out in 1502, and he took 20 ships and 400 passengers with him. His main goal for this journey was to enforce Portuguese interests in the East. He also went to claim land in India during his second expedition. During his journey to India, he killed hundreds of Muslims to show their power over the trade route ("Vasco da Gama - A Portuguese Explorer"). The second time he arrived in India, merchants there were not willing to trade because of the inadequate good, trinkets, he offered in the first place. Then, he tried to force the rulers and merchants to trade by using his canons ("Vasco Da Gama Biography"). After all, he brought back silk, gold, and enforcement of their settlement in India ("Vasco da Gama - A Portuguese Explorer). Eventually, he captured Goa, a port city on India's west coast in 1510 and developed the area to be the capital of their trading empire ("Beck 533"). Then, the trade of spices increased in Portugal, which led to a positive impact to the economy. In February 1503, Vasco da Gama left Cochin and on his return to Portugal, he established a trading posts in Mozambique, which later became a colonized country to the Portuguese (Szalay).
The ships Vasco da Gama used during his exploration ("Vasco Da Gama Sets Sail")