8th July 1497: Vasco da Gama’s first voyage to India.

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who made history by becoming the first European to reach India by sea. His voyage of 1497-99 opened up a new route from Europe to Asia, bypassing the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and paved the way for Portuguese colonial expansion and trade domination in the Indian Ocean.

Background and preparation

Portugal was a small but ambitious maritime nation that sought to explore and exploit the unknown lands beyond Europe. Since the early 15th century, Portuguese sailors had been venturing down the coast of Africa, discovering new lands and establishing trading posts. They were motivated by a desire to find a sea route to India, the source of valuable spices such as pepper and cinnamon, which were in high demand in Europe but controlled by Muslim merchants and intermediaries.

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias reached the southern tip of Africa, which he named the Cape of Good Hope, but he did not proceed further east due to storms and mutiny. Ten years later, King Manuel I of Portugal decided to resume the quest for India and appointed Vasco da Gama, a nobleman and experienced navigator, to lead the expedition.

Da Gama was given four ships: two medium-sized carracks (three-masted sailing ships) named São Gabriel and São Rafael, each of about 120 tons; a smaller caravel (a fast and maneuverable ship) named Berrio, of 50 tons; and a large supply ship of 200 tons. He also had a crew of about 170 men, including experienced sailors, pilots, clerks, soldiers, and interpreters. Among them were Pero de Alenquer, Pedro Escobar, João de Coimbra, and Afonso Gonçalves, who had sailed with Dias or other previous expeditions.

The outward journey

Da Gama departed from Lisbon on July 8, 1497, following the route of Dias along the coast of Africa. He made several stops along the way to replenish water and food, trade with local people, and repair his ships. Some of these stops were:

• São Tiago (now Santiago), one of the Cape Verde Islands, where he stayed for nine days.
• São Nicolau (now Saint Nicholas), another Cape Verde Island, where he stayed for four days.
• São Jorge da Mina (now Elmina), a Portuguese fortress on the Gold Coast (now Ghana), where he stayed for 11 days.
• São Brás (now Mossel Bay), a bay on the south coast of Africa, where he erected a stone pillar with the coat of arms of Portugal.
• Angra de São Brás (now Mossel Bay), another bay nearby, where he stayed for 13 days.
• Rio do Infante (now Gourits River), a river further east, where he stayed for four days.

On November 22, 1497, da Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope and entered the Indian Ocean. He then sailed northeast along the coast of Africa until he reached Malindi (now in Kenya) on April 14, 1498. There he hired a pilot named Ibn Majid, who was familiar with the route to India. He also exchanged gifts with the local ruler and obtained his permission to erect another stone pillar.

On April 24, 1498, da Gama left Malindi with three ships (he had scuttled the supply ship earlier) and followed Ibn Majid’s guidance across the Arabian Sea. After sailing for 23 days without seeing land, he finally sighted the coast of India on May 17. He anchored at Calicut (now Kozhikode), a major trading port on the Malabar Coast.

The arrival in India

Da Gama’s arrival in India was a historic moment that marked the beginning of direct contact between Europe and Asia by sea. However, it was not an easy or friendly encounter. Da Gama faced many challenges and difficulties in dealing with the local authorities and merchants.

The ruler of Calicut was Zamorin (a title meaning “lord of the sea”), who was also known as Manavikraman Raja. He was curious about da Gama’s origin and purpose but also suspicious of his intentions. He sent an official named Cheraman Perumal to greet da Gama and escort him to his palace. Da Gama presented himself as an ambassador of King Manuel I and offered him some gifts that he had brought from Portugal. However, these gifts were considered cheap and insulting by the Zamorin and his courtiers, who expected more valuable items such as gold or silk.

Da Gama also faced opposition from the Muslim traders who dominated the spice trade in Calicut. They saw da Gama as a potential rival and a threat to their monopoly and tried to sabotage his negotiations with the Zamorin. They spread rumors about da Gama’s background and motives, accused him of being a pirate or a spy, and demanded that he pay customs duties and leave his goods as a guarantee.

Da Gama tried to overcome these obstacles by emphasizing his desire to establish a friendly and profitable trade relationship with the Zamorin and by showing him samples of his merchandise, which included cloth, coral, copper, silver, and wine. He also asked for permission to leave some of his men in Calicut as a sign of goodwill and to learn more about the local culture and commerce. The Zamorin agreed to these requests but did not grant da Gama any special privileges or concessions. He also delayed issuing him a formal letter of authorization (a cartaz) that would allow him to trade freely in India.

The return journey

Da Gama realized that he had not achieved much in Calicut and decided to leave as soon as possible. He loaded his ships with some spices and other goods that he had bought or received as gifts and prepared to depart. He also left behind 20 of his men, led by Pedro de Covilhã, who had volunteered to stay in India and gather more information.

Da Gama left Calicut on August 29, 1498, but he did not follow the same route that he had taken on the outward journey. Instead, he sailed south along the coast of India until he reached Cannanore (now Kannur), another trading port where he was well received by the local ruler. There he repaired his ships and took on more supplies. He also erected another stone pillar and exchanged some of his goods for more spices.

On October 5, 1498, da Gama left Cannanore and sailed west across the Arabian Sea. He encountered a severe storm that lasted for 32 days and damaged his ships. He also lost many of his men to scurvy, a disease caused by lack of vitamin C. He finally reached Malindi on January 8, 1499, where he stayed for a month to recover and repair his ships.

On February 7, 1499, da Gama left Malindi and sailed south along the coast of Africa. He made several stops along the way, including:

• Mombasa (now in Kenya), where he was attacked by some Muslim ships but managed to repel them.
• Kilwa (now in Tanzania), where he met with the local ruler who was friendly and offered him some gifts.
• Sofala (now in Mozambique), where he traded some of his goods for gold.
• Mozambique Island (now part of Mozambique), where he was welcomed by the Portuguese factor who had been sent there by Dias.
• Ilha de Moçambique (now part of Mozambique), where he erected another stone pillar.
• Cape of Good Hope, which he rounded on March 20, 1499.

On April 20, 1499, da Gama reached São Brás (now Mossel Bay), where he found a letter from one of his men who had stayed behind in Calicut. The letter informed him that the Zamorin had turned hostile and imprisoned the Portuguese who had remained there. Da Gama was outraged by this news and vowed to return to India with a stronger force.

On May 20, 1499, da Gama reached São Nicolau (now Saint Nicholas), where he learned that one of his ships, the São Rafael, had been lost at sea with all its crew. He also learned that another ship, the Berrio, had arrived there before him and had already departed for Lisbon. Da Gama decided to follow it with his remaining ship, the São Gabriel.

On July 10, 1499, da Gama arrived at Terceira Island in the Azores, where he buried his brother Paulo da Gama, who had died during the voyage. He also met with King Manuel I’s envoy who congratulated him on his achievement and informed him that he had been granted a generous pension and other rewards.

On September 9, 1499, da Gama finally reached Lisbon after more than two years at sea. He was greeted by a jubilant crowd and received by King Manuel I with great honour and admiration. He was also given the title of Dom (lord) and later became Count of Vidigueira.

Conclusion

Vasco da Gama’s voyage of 1497-99 was a remarkable feat of exploration and navigation that changed the course of world history. It established a direct link between Europe and Asia by sea and opened up new opportunities for trade, colonization, and cultural exchange. It also challenged the Muslim dominance of the spice trade and initiated a long-lasting rivalry between Portugal and other European powers for control of the Indian Ocean.