Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who is credited with discovering the sea route from Europe to India. He was born in 1460 in Sines, Portugal and died on December 24, 1524 in Cochin, India.
Da Gama is known for his voyages to India, which were sponsored by King Manuel I of Portugal. In 1497, he set sail with a fleet of four ships and a crew of 170 men on a mission to find a new trade route to the East Indies. After a long and treacherous journey, he finally arrived in Calicut, India in May 1498.
Upon his arrival, da Gama was greeted by the local ruler, the Zamorin of Calicut, who was initially welcoming but eventually grew wary of the Portuguese explorers. Despite this, da Gama was able to establish a trading post in Calicut and establish diplomatic relations with the Zamorin.
In 1502, da Gama returned to Portugal, leaving his brother Paulo in charge of the trading post. He was hailed as a hero upon his return and was appointed Governor of India by King Manuel I.
In 1503, da Gama set sail once again, this time with a larger fleet of 20 ships. However, the voyage was not a success, as many of the ships were lost at sea and the mission was marred by conflict with the local rulers.
Da Gama returned to Portugal in 1504, but he was not done with exploration. In 1524, he set sail once again, this time with the goal of establishing a Portuguese presence in the Red Sea. However, the voyage was cut short when da Gama fell ill and died in Cochin, India on December 24, 1524.
Despite his controversial legacy, da Gama is remembered as an important figure in the history of exploration and the Age of Discovery. His voyages helped establish Portugal as a major maritime power and opened up the East Indies to European trade.