European Exploration and Voyaging into the Unexplained

It was the age of the European Renaissance when exploration and voyaging began to take flight. The world was a vast wonderland just ready to be understood when Europe stepped out of the ignorant Dark Ages. Art, architecture, and literature were very important to the Renaissance, but not as much as exploration. Many explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco de Gama, and Ferdinand Magellan took voyages and brought back treasures such as maps, goods, and information of other worlds. Two European explorers that are very appealing are Vasco de Gama and Christopher Columbus. But in my opinion, these two seem to stand out the most because of the voyages they undertook. Both of these explorers made a big impact in the areas of the world they traveled.

Vasco de Gama traveled to the locations of Mozambique, Mombassa, Malindi, India, Brazil, Kilwa, Vidigueira, and many others. De Gama went on three voyages in total in order to reach his desired locations between the years of July 8, 1497 to Christmas Eve 1524 when he died during his third voyage. Vasco's first voyage consisted of four ships in his fleet (the Sгo Gabriel, the Sгo Rafael, the Berrio, and a storage ship of unknown name). De Gama's ships rounded the Cape of Good Hope on November 22, 1497. In January, de Gama's small fleet pulled up into Muslim-controlled water off the coast of East Africa near Mozambique where he worked for a pilot from Malindi in exchange for him to guide them the rest of the way to Calcut, India. At other points along the coast of Mozambique, the Muslims were hostile towards de Gama seeing him as a threat to their trade with India and tried to seize his ships. Finally, on May 20, 1498, Vasco de Gama arrived on India's western shore in Calicut, India (now known as Kozhikode). What had been attempted and dreamed by so many, like Columbus and Prince Henry, had finally been accomplished. At first, he was received well by the Zamorin (Hindu ruler of India) and was taken to the Hindu temple. But after de Gama presented the Zamorin what he felt were inferior gifts, the attitudes towards the newcomers quickly changed; the trade goods that had been accepted in Africa were of little worth in the high-class Indian market. The Muslims' attitude towards the Portuguese interference also contributed towards the hostility. "De Gama's arrival aroused the hostility of the Arab traders at Calicut. He was jailed as a pirate and narrowly escaped death. Finally he was allowed to assemble a rich cargo of spices and precious stones." Finally, the Zamorin agreed to trade spices and gems for Portuguese gold, silver, coral, and scarlet cloth. After his release, he set sail for Lisbon, Portugal in August, 1498 with only 55 of his 170 men - most of who had died of scurvy. De Gama and his remaining crew arrived back in Portugal in September and declared heroes. King Emanuel made Vasco de Gama a Lord and supplied him with a large income. Economically, the trip was well worth the effort earning a 3000% profit due to inflated prices back in Portugal.

On Vasco's second voyage, When Vasco de Gama went out on his second expedition on February 12, 1502; he was prepared for an encounter with the Muslim traders. He set sail with 20 well-armed ships, hoping to force his way into the market and to get revenge on the Muslims for the opposition in 1498. De Gama killed many innocent Indians and Muslims. In one instance, de Gama waited for a ship to return from Mecca, a Muslim trading and religious center. The Portuguese overtook the ship and seized all the merchandise. Then they locked the 380 passengers in the hold and set the ship on fire. It took four days for the ship to sink, killing all men, women, and children. When de Gama arrived in Calicut on October 30, 1502, the Zamorin was willing to sign a treaty. De Gama told him that he would have to banish all of the Muslims. To demonstrate his power, de Gama hung 38 fishermen; cut off their heads, feet, and hands; and floated the dismembered corpses onto the shore. Later de Gama bombarded the city with guns and forced his way into the trading system. This led the way for other Portuguese conquests in the East Indies.

On Vasco's third and final voyage, De Gama returned in February. In 1519, de Gama was made a count. When he was appointed the viceroy of India in 1524, he returned to India for his third and last time. However, he died soon after arriving in Goa in September, 1524. It is said that his remains were taken back to Portugal to be buried in the chapel where he had prayed before his first voyage to India.

What was the overall importance of Vasco's voyage and what effect does it have on us today? Not only did it help Portugal’s economy, but it helped all of Europe's economy and trade. His voyage was one of the causes that helped end the Medieval Ages. Vasco de Gama's