Skip to main content

What are Vasco Da Gama's achievements?

Vasco de Gama was an explorer of Portuguese ancestry. He was born in Sinnes, Portugal in 1460, the son of an explorer, and died of malaria in 1524, shortly after he arrived in India following his third voyage.


Due to the difficulty of traversing the overland route to India, it was important to Europeans to find a more proficient way to access the spices and riches of India. The overland route was a long, arduous...

Vasco de Gama was an explorer of Portuguese ancestry. He was born in Sinnes, Portugal in 1460, the son of an explorer, and died of malaria in 1524, shortly after he arrived in India following his third voyage.


Due to the difficulty of traversing the overland route to India, it was important to Europeans to find a more proficient way to access the spices and riches of India. The overland route was a long, arduous journey fraught with the dangers of war and pillage.


In 1497, King Henry of Portugal commissioned Vasco de Gama with four ships, and sponsored a sea expedition from Portugal, around the Cape of Good Hope, and northward along the coast of Africa, across the Indian Ocean to Calcutta, India. The expedition was a success in that the ships reached India, but they had little to trade so were forced to return to Portugal; a journey which proved to be problematic. Many sailors were lost to disease, and the time it took to return to port was much longer than the original trip. Despite its shortcomings, the expedition was hailed as de Gama's greatest achievement.


Vasco de Gama made two more voyages around the Cape of Good Hope. The first was to demonstrate that the Portuguese navy was a formidable force against Arab ships. The second one was successful in reaching India but Vasco de Gama died of disease soon after arrival.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more