While there, da Gama spoke to local Muslim merchants to gain information about crossing the Indian Ocean. After paying for the services of anĮxperienced navigator to join his crew, da Gama set sail for India. Ocean earlier. By November 22, da Gama reached Mossel Bay in South Africa. In March he reached Mozambique on the east coast of Africa: the furthest any Portuguese sailor had Among his crew was Bartolomeu Dias, the explorer who had reached the Indian He chose Vasco da Gama for the task.ĭa Gama sailed from Lisbon on the 8th of July 1497 Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon. He was called Manuel I decided to send another fleet to try and reach India. Then, from 1481, King John II of Portugal did the same. One of these explorers, called Bartolomeu Dias, finally made it to the Indian Ocean in 1488,īut did not reach India. To that end, Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, paid for a number of explorers to sail down the west coast of Africa in search of a safe route. Route to the east, travelling around the south of Africa, would be quicker and cheaper. Therefore, the kings and queens of the various European kingdoms thought that a sea These nations would charge high taxes for anyone travelling through their lands. Traditionally, any trade between Europe and Asia had to travel over land and through the Muslim nations in the Middle East.

European nations were looking for a sea route to the east. By the time he had turned 20 yearsĪs da Gama was growing up, Portugal was in the middle of an exploration boom. da Gama went to school in Evora village, where he developed a love of navigation and sailing.

Vasco da Gama was born at the town of Sines in Portugal at some time before 1470. Both of his parents were from the Portuguese nobility, and hisįather was involved in the royal court.

What did vasco da gama explore