Vasco Da Gama

Following in the foot steps of Bartholomeu Dias, another explorer left Portugal in 1497 hoping to sail around Africa, and reach India. This explorer was Vasco Da Gama.

Da Gama set out with four ships from his homeland in Portugal. Ten months later, he and his men arrived in Calicut, India. Here they established ties with the leaders of this city, and attempted to setup a trading partnership.

While their efforts to setup a partnership with Indian traders was not successful, they did prove once and for all that moving goods over the sea was possible. Vasco Da Gama and his men returned to Portugal as heroes.