Vocabulary

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Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first person to successfully sail from Europe around Africa to Southeast Asia.

Claude Hulet, Prof of Spanish and Portuguese, UCLA: “Vasco da Gama was the one who opened up the maritime trade route between Europe and Asia. In my view, going through the South Atlantic and around the Cape was equivalent to our putting a man on the moon.”

 
Born to a noble family in Sines, Portugal around 1469, Vasco da Gama took to the sea at an early age.

Gayle Brunelle, Prof of History, Cal State Fullerton: “Vasco da Gama worked on merchant ships in the King’s service, learning how to be a navigator, learning all the things that he would later need to know in order to command an expedition.”

Da Gama earned a commission to find a sea route to India, and set sail with a four-ship expedition in July 1497, from Lisbon down the coast of Africa.

 
Scott Wells, Prof of History, Cal State, LA.“So the prevailing winds move north; you’re trying to sail south. Da Gama sailed out into the Atlantic, basically almost as far as Brazil.”

Once there, da Gama was able to use the prevailing southern winds to take him south past Africa.

Gayle Brunelle, Cal State Fullerton: “What’s historic about da Gama’s voyage around the Cape of Good Hope is precisely that da Gama figured out how to do this. He is the first one successfully to get into the Indian Ocean, work his way up the coast of East Africa, and ultimately reach India.”

 
Claude Hulet, UCLA: “The water route from Europe to Asia was very important because it gave direct access to the spices of the Far East.”

Scott Wells, Prof of History, Cal State, LA. “Vasco da Gama is welcomed as a hero on his return to Lisbon in 1499 because the profits made from the goods that he had brought back from India demonstrated the wealth that could be achieved from this new route, linking Portugal directly with Indian Ocean markets.”

Da Gama covered more than 24,000 miles (38,624 kilometers)in his historic trip to India, and of the 170 original crew members, only 54 made it home alive.

Gayle Brunelle, Cal State Fullerton: “In 1502, King Manuel tapped da Gama to lead this larger expedition to again initiate trade directly between Portugal and the spice markets of India.

This expedition, from the Portuguese point of view, is a success because da Gama is able to force his way into the markets. And when I say force, I mean using cannons to literally BLAST his way into the harbor and force the rulers to trade with him.”

 
Upon da Gama’s return to Portugal two years later, he retired from exploration and became King Manuel’s advisor.

However, in 1524, the new King John III persuaded him to return to India to become its Viceroy.

He died in India in 1538.

 
Scott Wells, Cal State, LA. “Because Vasco da Gama found this route to India, he succeeded in making Portugal a principal supplier of high-profit luxury commodities like pepper to the European markets.

This, in turn, made the Portuguese state extremely wealthy and turned Portugal into a great power.”

Questions

Atlantic Ocean. The British were the first Europeans to reach India by sea. True or false? Was sailing to Asia a minor feat?

Indian Ocean. Was Vasco da Gama the son of a fisherman? Did Vasco da Gama come from a family of fishermen?

Pacific Ocean. Da Gama was appointed to lead an ocean expedition due to nepotism, favoritism and connections. Is this right or wrong?

Arctic Ocean. Did da Gama’s fleet hug the west African coast as they sailed south?

Mediterranean Sea. Da Gama became a hero because he discovered new, unknown lands. Is this correct or incorrect?

Caribbean Sea. Did da Gama make successful trade deals through diplomacy and persuasive skills alone?

Arabian Sea. Portugal became wealthy through manufacturing and export. Yes or no?

Persian Gulf. Did da Gama retire and settle in a country estate where he spent the rest of his life?
 
 
 
Red Sea. Does your nation have a maritime tradition? Has your nation engaged in extensive trade by water?

Bay of Bengal. Who are some great or famous explorers and travelers from your nation? Who are your heroes or favorite travelers and explorers?

Azores. Were Vasco da Gama and others good, bad, both, in between, or neither? Were they right, wrong, both, in between or neither?

Madeira Islands. My friends and I would like to go on expeditions and journeys.

Canary Islands. What might happen in the future?

Sri Lanka. Should everyone travel and experience new places, people and cultures?