Vasco Da Gama Biography – Life of the Portuguese Explorer and His Voyages to India

The Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama is credited for opening up several new sea routes. The life of the Portuguese explorer and the voyages he made to India always deserve a mention.

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Vasco Da Gama Biography - Life of an Explorer

Vasco da Gama was a famous Portuguese navigator who is given the credit to explore the sea route to India. Right from the early stages of Vasco da Gama biography, he was brave and ambitious. Born in the year 1469 in a Portuguese noble family at Sines, Vasco da Gama soon became a famous commander at sea. The early phase of Vasco da Gama biography is shrouded in mystery. However, it is known that when the Portuguese king decided to send an ambitious expedition to explore India, Vasco was chosen the commander. Finally, he and his crew set sail on 8th July 1497 and reached Calicut on 20th May the next year. They had to face numerous challenges to do what nobody had done before. The discovery of sea route to India was of great significance as it opened up new possibilities of trade that changed the history of Europe and Asia in the centuries to come.

Vasco Da Game Bridge - Colossus Structure

Vasco Da Gama voyages have truly opened gateways to visit different countries. To pay respect to this great Sea Explorer, Portuguese government constructed the Vasco da Gama bridge on Tagus River in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. This is a cable stayed bridge. With the length of 17.2 kilometers, this is the ninth longest bridge in the world and the longest in Europe. The Vasco da Gama Bridge was inaugurated on 29th March in the year 1998. It took 18 months to complete the construction of the bridge. In fact, the building was opened just at the time of the Expo 98 which was a world fair to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the historic discovery of sea route from Europe to India by Vasco da Gama. According to report, more than 3000 workers joined hands to erect this massive structure which has the life expectancy of more than 120 years. It can withstand severest of severe earthquakes and wind speeds of more than 250kmph.

Vasco Da Gama Facts - Worth Learning

Little is known about the early life of Vasco da Gama. However, he became famous after his momentous exploration. It was reported that Vasco and his crew erected a marble pillar to commemorate their arrival at India. What was originally meant as a commercial venture soon turned out to be a colonial expedition. Vasco’s ships returned home after establishing a colony in India. On their way back, the ships took huge amount of silk, gems, spices and other valuable products from India. However, in between Vasco had to face the wrath of the king of Calicut who did not take the entire affair lightly. However, Vasco da Gama facts tell us that he got the better of their fights and eventually destroyed Calicut cruelly. Vasco dies in India; but his remains were taken to Portugal where it was interred with pompous ceremony.