Biography of the life of Vasco da Gama :
Biography of the life of Vasco da Gama Nationality - Portuguese
Lifespan - 1469 - 1524
Family - Father was Estevao da Gama a Portuguese noble and Courtier
Education - Well educated befitting his status
Career - Explorer and Navigator
Famous for : Discovered an ocean route from Portugal to the East, assumed to be impossible feat as it was believed that the Indian Ocean was not connected to any other seas
Early Life :
Early Life Born on 1460 or 1469 in Sines, Portugal
Studied Mathematics & Navigation at the inland town of Evora
Knew Astronomy well
He studied from the astronomer Abraham Zacuto
In 1492, was sent to seize French ships in retaliation for peace rime depredations against Portugese shipping
First Voyage :
First Voyage Sent by King John II
Started on 8 July 1497
It consists of 4 ships & a crew of 179
22 November 1497 – Sailed around the Cape of Good Hope
25 December 1497 – Reached the Coast of Natal
January 1498 – Reached the mouth of the Zambezi
20 May 1498 – Reached India
5 October 1498 – Sets Sail for home
September 1499 – Returns to home
Slide 7:
Sent by King Manuel I
Started on 12 February 1502
It consists of 20 War Ships
In this Voyage:
- engaged in privateer actions against Arab merchant ships
- destroyed a Calicut Fleet of 29 ships
- extracted favorable trading concessions
- returned home in September 1503 Second Voyage
Third Voyage :
Third Voyage Sent by King John III
Started in 1524
Aim is to replace the incompetent Eduardo de Menezes as viceroy of the Portuguese possessions
Contracted Malaria and Died on 24 December 1524
Body was 1st buried at St. Francis Church ( Kochi)
His remains were returned to Portugal in 1539
The Monastery of Hieronymites was erected in honour of his voyage to India
Slide 9:
Vasco da Gama's tomb
His Contributions :
His Contributions Found a sea route to the East Indies
Responsible for Portugal’s success as an colonizing power
His voyages proved vital to maintaining national trade routes to the Far East