Describe Vasco Da Gama's Voyage to India, what did he and his sailors discovered?
1 Answer
Da Gama's voyage lasted two years, half the men and half the ships were lost, He found an established Islamic trade system with India and a way to secure that trade for Portugal
Explanation:
Vasco da Gama sailed far out to sea instead of sailing along the west coast of Africa. He and his sailors saw a lot of empty seas.
When he reached the coast of Africa his sailors offended the local tribe by taking water without permission. Vasco was wounded.
Rounding the Cape of Good Hope His fleet of four ships were faced by strong storms. They found good fishing off the coast of south Africa that they called Natal. Again the local tribes were hostile.
When the fleet reached East Africa in Mozambic they found an established trade center for slaves and gold control by a Muslim sultan. When the Sultan found that da Gama was a Christian they tried to capture the ships and enslave the Portugese. In retaliation da Gama shelled the city.
When the fleet reached Mombasa the news of their attack on Mozambic reached there ahead of them. The local Sultan tried to trick the Portugese into running their fleet aground. The conflict between the Muslim trading ports of East Africa and the Christians was really just an extension of the wars taking place in the Mediterrian.
Da Gama used this conflict as an excuse to take Arab trading vessels and their cargos. When he reached India the Muslim traders convinced the local Hindu ruler in Calcutta that the Portugesse were pirates and not " royal " representatives. Although da Gama was unsuccessful in actually trading with India on his first trip the cargos that he took by force more than paid for the voyage and opened up the route to India to Portugal
