mocomi.com/ presents : Vasco Da Gama - Age of Discovery - World History Vasco da Gama, was a Portuguese explorer who was commander of the first ships to sail straight from Europe to India. Little is known about Vasco da Gama’s early life, but it is believed that he was a student of mathematics and navigation. On 8 July 1497, Da Gama led a fleet of four ships with a crew of a 170 men from Lisbon. The distance that he and his crew travelled from Africa to India was greater than what it would have been around the equator. Da Gama’a trip to India consisted of several stops along the way in Africa as well as problems faced with Muslim traders who did not want him to interfere in their profitable trade routes. He finally reached Calicut on May 20, 1498. At first, da Gama and his trading were well-received, but this only lasted a short while. The King ordered him to pay a large tax in gold similar to what other merchants pay. Da Gama left India on August 29, 1498. His expedition beat all expectations after he brought in cargo that was worth 60 times the cost of the expedition. He also took with him hostages, a few Nairs and sixteen Mukkuva fishermen. Da Gama arrived in Lisbon in September, 1499. On Da Gama’s journey back, many of his crew members died from scurvy. He however recieved a hero’s welcome and was well rewarded by the king. He was given the title ‘Admiral of the Indian Seas.' On 12 February 1502, da Gama led the 4th Portuguese Armada to India, a fleet of fifteen ships and eight hundred men, with the object of enforcing Portuguese interests in the east. On this voyage, Da Gama and his troops killed hundreds of Muslims, often brutally, in order to demonstrate their power. In this trip he returned triumphant, primarily with silk and gold, and also established a settlement of the Portugese people in India. Da Gama was sent to India again in 1524 to replace the incompetent Viceroy. Vasco contracted malaria not long after arriving in Goa and died in the city of Cochin on Christmas Eve in 1524. To read more about Vasco da Gama do visit: mocomi.com/vasco-da-gama/ For more fun learning videos and interactive articles related to history, go to: mocomi.com/learn/history/ Follow Mocomi Kids - Top educational website for kids, on Facebook www.facebook.com/mocomikids/ on Twitter twitter.com/MocomiKids on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/mocomikids/ on Google+ plus.google.com/+mocomikids/ on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/mocomi-kids

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