Who Discovered the Sea Route to India? Vasco da Gama’s Groundbreaking Voyage

Who Discovered the Sea Route to India?

Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route to India on May 17, in the year 1498 C.E. was a Portuguese explorer. He came to India during the Age of Exploration. He was in search of the rare Indian spices. These spices were infamous in European countries. They began to look for new trade routes to India to gain a spice trade monopoly. It led to the development of spice trade in European countries. 

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was eventually credited with finding the sea route to India. Under King Manuel I’s reign, this was the first expedition to India that was documented from Europe. It was considered one of the most significant nautical expeditions and gave the Portuguese a stronghold in Kerala and the Indian Ocean.

Vasco da Gama: Who Discovered the Sea Route to India

Vasco da Gama’s name has been written in bold letters in Indian history textbooks. He made history by discovering the sea route to India from Europe.

Vasco da Gama, born in the 1460s, was a Portuguese explorer. His father, Esteva, was a nobleman who joined the Order of Santiago under the rule of King John II of Portugal. Vasco da Gama followed his father in 1480 to join the Order of Santiago.

The Portuguese government was trying to find a sea route to India to avoid the restrictions of Muslim leaders. It was a cost-saving measure to avoid the middleman. Since Indian spices were world-famous, they wanted a monopoly on the spice trade. They saw the potential wealth and power in finding a direct sea route to India. The discovery of the sea route to India was an excellent contribution to making Portugal a powerful country. 

The Portuguese monarchy’s support for maritime endeavours

The Portuguese monarchy had a vital role in the sea expedition to India. Earlier, King John’s son, Prince Henry, supported numerous sea expeditions. He financed the Western African maritime expeditions. His successful endeavors motivated King Manuel I to support Vasco da Gama.

King Manuel financed the sea expedition to India. He also provided ships, supplies, and a crew. The monarchs supported maritime expeditions because they benefited their kingdoms.

Who helped Vasco da Gama to Reach India?

Ahmad ibn Majid from a seafaring family and an Arabian navigator born in 1421, assisted Vasco da Gama in his journey from Africa to India, becoming the first Arab seaman at 17 and known as the ‘Lion of the Sea’.

Ahmad ibn Majid: Who helped Vasco da Gama to Reach India

Ibn Majid was well-known in the maritime industry long before Vasco Da Gama set out on his expedition in the Indian Ocean. To travel from Malindi (Kenya) to India, Vasco da Gama enlists the aid of an Indian Ocean sailor. It is believed that in 1498, Ahmad Ibn Majid gave Portuguese explorer Vasco-da-Gama the route to India while under the influence of alcohol. Nonetheless, many historians also believe that Vasco already had a map created by Ahmad and a Gujarati sailor who had shown him the route to the port of Calicut while they were present at the port of Malindi (Kenya) on their way back to India.

Even when it wasn’t Ibn Mājid who was commanding da Gama’s ship. Still, without the collective wisdom that passed across the Indian Ocean thanks to the contributions of Ibn Mājid, Vasco da Gama would not have arrived at his destination.

The Vasco da Gama Reached India

Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route to India began the Indian voyage preparations in early 1497. The sea expedition to India was a plan originated by King John II, but King Manuel I supervised all the preparations for the expedition.

Vasco da Gama is the one who discovered the sea route to India. His departure from Portugal to India led to a historic event. This man started this journey from Lisbon on 8 July 1497. He had four ships with a crew of 170 members. He commanded a ship named St. Gabriel himself. His brother, Paulo, also led one of the ships. The ship was named St. Rafael.

The new ships for the voyage weighed around 170-200 tons each. King Manuel I supervised all the preparations for the Indian Voyage. The distance covered back and forth from Portugal to India was the largest traveled via sea at that time.

Challenging Journey around the Cape of Good Hope

As the Portuguese explorers had already explored Africa, they found a way to reach India through the Cape of Good Hope. They believed the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet at the end of African lands.

Vasco da Gama reached the Cape of Good Hope, located on the coast of South Africa, in November. During that time, due to strong winds and bad weather, their ships were heavily damaged. After resting for a few days, they used this time to repair ships and other damages.

While going around the Cape of Good Hope towards the eastern coast of Africa, Vasco da Gama met a few Muslim Merchants. It was difficult for him to cross the eastern coast as the Muslim traders already considered Europeans as their competition. Since the Muslim traders had an established business in that region, Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route to India was unable to receive any help from the locals.

Only 55 of the 170 crew members returned to Lisbon at the end of the voyage. The journey from July to November was challenging as he lost many crew members due to unfavorable winds and sea waves.

Arrival in India and the Spice Trade

Vasco da Gama’s main goal was to establish a monopolized trade route for spices between India and Portugal. However, he did not successfully form a business relationship with the King of Calicut.

1. Touchdown on Indian soil: Kozhikode (Calicut)

Vasco da Gama reached India on 20 May 1498. He first set foot in India in Kozhikode (Calicut). The locals welcomed all the foreigners warmly. But, the King of Calicut was not impressed by the gifts sent by Portugal.

Although the gifts included clothes, sugar, oil, and honey, the king was unimpressed because there was no gold or silver. When Vasco da Gama asked the locals, they told him even merchants from small countries brought more gifts and gold.

The Muslim merchants considered them as competitors. They also suggested that the foreigners were mere pirates and not royal explorers.

2. Establishing trade relations and the allure of spices

During the early 15th century, Indian spices were world-famous. These spices attracted European countries to establish trade with Indians. When Vasco da Gama reached India, he aimed to form profitable trade relations between the two countries. He sought essential spices like cumin, pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. These spices were in massive demand because they gave a unique flavor to any dish.

European countries considered these spices as rare items. The spices were also known for their medicinal properties. These were used as the main ingredient in many medicinal creams and syrups.
Vasco da Gama who discovered the sea route to India knew the importance of spices in foreign countries.

It was the most profitable business prospect for Portugal. But unfortunately, they didn’t form a deal with the King of Calicut. This deal was bound to fail because Vasco da Gama refused to pay the taxes. 

The Significance of Vasco da Gama’s Voyage

Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India was a turning point in world history. His successful voyage opened up a direct trade route between Europe and Asia, circumventing the long and expensive overland routes controlled by the Ottomans and Arab merchants. This had profound economic and political consequences for Europe, Asia, and the wider world.

Economic Impact

The direct sea route to India allowed Portugal to establish lucrative trade links with India and the surrounding regions. Portuguese merchants could now purchase spices, silks, and other goods directly from India, bypassing the middlemen who had traditionally controlled the trade. The spice trade became a central focus of Portuguese commerce, and the wealth generated from it helped fuel the rise of the Portuguese Empire.

The new maritime routes also allowed the Portuguese to dominate key strategic ports along the East African coast, in Arabia, and India. They established fortified trading posts in places like Goa, Malacca, and Mozambique, laying the groundwork for Portugal’s colonial empire in Asia.

Colonial Expansion

Vasco da Gama, the legendary explorer who discovered the sea route to India, set sail with the ambitious goal of establishing new trade routes. However, his groundbreaking voyage soon paved the way for Portuguese colonial expansion across the Indian Ocean. Following in his wake, the Portuguese established a network of strategically placed trading posts and forts that stretched from Africa to the Arabian Peninsula and deep into Southeast Asia. The Portuguese Empire in Asia rose to prominence, dominating global spice trade routes and becoming one of the most formidable colonial powers of the 16th century. Vasco da Gama’s discovery not only transformed the course of history but also solidified Portugal’s influence over the lucrative spice trade for decades to come.

Other European nations soon followed suit. Spain, the Netherlands, England, and France all sought to capitalize on the new maritime routes to Asia, leading to intense competition for control of trade and territory. The race for dominance in the Indian Ocean would eventually lead to the establishment of other European empires in Asia, including the British Raj.

Cultural Exchange and Globalization

Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route, triggered a wave of cultural and intellectual exchange between Europe and Asia. His groundbreaking voyage opened new doors for European explorers, merchants, and missionaries who began to move more freely between the two continents, bringing with them not just goods, but also new ideas, religions, and technologies.

At the same time, the introduction of European goods and ideas to Asia began to alter local cultures. The Portuguese introduced new foods, weapons, and technologies to India and Southeast Asia, some of which were adopted by local populations. However, European colonialism also brought exploitation, violence, and long-lasting social and economic changes to the regions they colonized.

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Historical Controversies of India Sea Route Discovery

Vasco da Gama was a European explorer who discovered the sea route to India. This valuable discovery led to many historical events and numerous controversies. Everyone around the world had their perspective regarding this discovery.

1. Vasco da Gama’s Interactions with Local Populations

Every historical event has a different controversy and perspective. People have their own opinions of every event. It’s necessary to consider multiple viewpoints to understand any historical event.

Indians were always welcoming towards foreigners as per the Indian traditions to treat guests as equivalent to gods. When Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498, the locals welcomed him warmly. At that time, Calicut was one of the prominent ports for international trade.

Consequently, merchants from many countries came to the port bearing precious gifts for the king. It was a custom to present gifts to the king before requesting an official business meeting. The locals informed Vasco da Gama about the customs and how his gifts were inferior compared to ones brought by other traders.

He used to communicate with the locals with the help of Arabic speakers in his crew. He represented himself as an ambassador instead of a mere trader.

2. Critiques of Colonialism and the Broader Implications of Exploration

Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route led to Portugal and the East India Company colonizing Indian states. Many critics argue that colonization resulted in an unequal distribution of resources and economic instability.

Here are a few implications of exploration:

A. The foremost implication of exploration is colonialism. European countries established colonies in various parts of the world, leading to discrimination and exploitation of the population.

B. The growth of wealth and power was seen only among the European Countries. They stole from other countries to benefit their production and factories.

C. The exploration led to the transmission of various deadly diseases. The regular movements of people and goods facilitated the spread of diseases.

D. Colonization supported slavery. They used to treat people as property and force them to do free labor.

How did Vasco da Gama died

After earning a strong reputation as a “fixer” of issues that arose in India, Da Gama went back to the subcontinent once more in 1524. It was intended that he would replace the incompetent Eduardo de Menezes as viceroy (representative) of Portuguese possessions; however, shortly after coming to Goa, he became ill with malaria and passed away in Cochin on Christmas Eve, 1524. His remains were later brought back to Portugal in 1539 and interred in a magnificent tomb in Vidigueira. His body was first interred in the church of St. Francis, Fort Kochi. A monastery dedicated to the Hieronymites was built in Belém, Lisbon, to commemorate his trip to India.

Conclusion

• Vasco da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India in 1498 revolutionized global trade and set the stage for European colonization. Although his initial attempt to monopolize the spice trade failed, he returned in 1501 with more preparation, showing his determination. This discovery led to key historical events, including the Portuguese colonization of Goa in 1510 and the eventual British withdrawal from India in 1947, with both positive and negative consequences.

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