Vasco da Gama, the renowned Portuguese explorer, is best known for his groundbreaking voyages to India, which marked the first direct sea route from Europe to Asia. While he did not ‘discover’ countries in the traditional sense, as many of the lands he encountered were already inhabited and known to local populations, his expeditions did bring significant awareness of new territories to the Europeans.
During his first voyage from 1497 to 1499, da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and reached the shores of India. He made landfall at various places along the Indian coastline, including:
- Calicut (Kozhikode) – This was his main destination where he sought to establish trade relations with the spice market.
- Cochin (Kochi) – Another significant port where he forged alliances with local rulers.
In addition, Vasco da Gama’s voyages also included stops at:
- Mozambique – In modern-day Mozambique, where da Gama established contact with local sultanates.
- Mombasa – Located in present-day Kenya, where he encountered the local Swahili city-states.
While Vasco da Gama did not discover these countries in the way that we often think about discovery, his expeditions played a crucial role in establishing maritime trade routes and connecting Europe with parts of Africa and Asia, thereby altering the course of global history.