Vasco da Gama
Topic: Europeans in India and the Rise of Company Rule · NCERT: Class 8, Ch 4 "The Colonial Era in India"; Class 11, Ch 3 "Changing Traditions"
Meaning
Vasco da Gama was the Portuguese navigator who found the sea route from Europe to India. He sailed around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. He landed at Kappad, near Kozhikode (Calicut) in Kerala, in May 1498. His arrival opened the door to European colonisation of India. After him, the Portuguese tried to control Indian Ocean trade by force.
Example
The Zamorin of Calicut welcomed da Gama on his first visit. On his second voyage, about four years later, da Gama seized, tortured and killed Indian merchants and bombarded Calicut from the sea.
Don't confuse with
- Afonso de Albuquerque: da Gama was the explorer who reached India. Albuquerque was the governor who later captured Goa in 1510 and built Portugal's chain of forts.
Related concepts
- Portuguese in India
- Afonso de Albuquerque
- Cartaz system
- Kunjali Marakkars
- Goa Inquisition
- Rani Abbakka