Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia through the ocean. This was a pivotal moment in the Age of Discovery, as it established direct maritime trade routes between Europe and Asia.
Born in the coastal town of Sines in Portugal around 1460, Vasco da Gama was well placed to pursue a career in navigation. He joined the Order of Santiago and quickly established himself as a skilled sailor and commander.
In 1497, King Manuel I of Portugal chose Vasco da Gama to lead an expedition to open a sea route to India. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon with four ships and rounded the Cape of Good Hope, continuing on to the Indian subcontinent. His successful journey in 1498 laid the groundwork for a Portuguese commercial empire in Asia.
Vasco da Gama returned to India several times throughout his life, becoming a key figure in consolidating Portugal's holdings in the region. He died in Cochin, India, in 1524, but his voyages mark a significant chapter in world history.
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