Vasco+Da+Gama

=__Vasco Da Gama__= __By Ryan Mravljak, Amar Arabo and Alex Mclean__ == =__Introduction__= Vasco Da Gama (c.1460 or 1469 to 1524) was a Portugese explorer from the Voyages of Discovery. He was one of the most succesfull explorers of his time and was a commander of one of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India from 1497 to 1498. Da Gama discovered the route from Lisbon around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, up the coast of East Africa and finally to Calicut in India. At the time many people thought that it was impossible because the Indian Ocean was assumed not to be connected to any other seas. Later, Da Gama set up trading centres in India and soon made Portugal and himself rich. He was named Viceroy to India by King John III. =__Early Life__= Vasco Da Gama was born in either 1460 or 1469 in Sines, Portugal. His Father ( Estavao ) was also an explorer. Vasco Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal on July 8 1497. Many people at the time thought that his trip would be near impossible because at the time people thought the Indian Ocean was not connected to any other oceans. Da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope on November 22’d and continued to India. After problems with Muslim traders and many stops in Africa Da Gama reached Calicut, India. On May 20, 1498. =__Later Life__= Vasco Da Gama was 64 and living with his 6 sons and wife in Portugal. In 1524 King John the third named Vasco Da Gama the viceroy to India. Da Gama was planning to settle down and enjoy his retirement in Portugal, but that did not go to plan. Instead he had to sail to India to make sure everything was doing well, Da Gama fell ill shortly after he had reached India on December 24, 1524. He was later buried in India. =__Voyages to India__= Vasco da Gama made a total of three voyages to India, but only made two of them back to Portugal. On July the 8th, 1497, da Gama set off from Lisbon, Portugal with four ships on his voyage to India around Africa and the Cape of Good Hope. People doubted that Vasco's mission would be impossible because they thought that the Indian ocean wasn't connected to other seas. But, on the 22nd of November, after four months (and a bit) at sea and travelling along the route Bartolomule Dias had found years before, Vasco da Gama and his crew finally rounded the Cape of Good Hope. Eventually, ater stopping off at places such as Natal, Mozambique and Mombasa (all in South-East Africa), before finally on the 20th of May, 1498, da Gama reached Calicut, India.



Unfortunatly, Vasco's luck didn't last in India. He was doing well in the trade business until he got given a large tax and was told he had to leave all of his goods behind. Da Gama took his goods with him when he left India on 29th of August, 1498, and with the goods, some Indian hostages. Vasco eventually returened to Lisbon, Portugual, following a similar route from Portugual to India, in September, 1499. Unfortunatly, many of his crew members died of scurvy (a disease caused by the lack of Vitamin C). Upon his return, Da Gama and his remaining crew were regarded as heros and were rewarded by the king for their courage and persistance along the journey.

From 1502-1503, now as an Admiral, Vasco da Gama set sail again on another voyage to India. This time he brought 20 ships with him to control the problems with Muslim Traders. On this particular voyage, in order to demonstratehis power, Da Gama killed many Muslims, often very brutally. Da Gama returned to Portugual, only to find out that King Manuel had died, and that his successor, King John III, had now sent Vasco to India as the Viceroy (representative of the King in India). Unfourtnatly for him, Vasco Da Gama died in India on the 24th of December, 1524, due to a bad illness. After his death, the remains of Vasco were bought back to Portugual for burial.

media type="youtube" key="jL2z2VCg5fw" width="425" height="350" __**A short documentary of Vasco Da Gama**__