The ships had been greatly damaged by the storms. – Storms ripped through, the sailors were distraught and wanted to turn back but Vasco da Gama was determined to go on Some of the men even conspired to kill him but were unsuccessful he simply put the mutineers in iron bars and continued on his quest. Storms ripped through, the sailors were distraught and wanted to turn back but Vasco da Gama was determined to go on. Guns were fired, anchors were heaved and the sails were loosened, but it was a tough sail. Vasco da Gama leaving the port of Libson, Portugal | Wikimedia Commons
The crew was a motley group that included carpenters, blacksmiths, rope makers and other such skilled workers. On 8th July 1497, Vasco set sail on the Sao Gabriel with a fleet of three ships named after the archangels Gabriel, Rafael and Michael and a crew of 170 men from Lisbon, in search of India. In the year 1497, King Manuel I of Portugal appointed Vasco da Gama to command a voyage with ‘any ship he desired’ and discover the sea route to India. – Vasco Da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India ensured that Portugal had unopposed monopoly to the precious Indian spices Tracing the journey from Lisbon to Calicut Vasco’s first mover advantage also ensured that Portugal had unopposed monopoly to the precious Indian spices making them the undisputed lords of trade, in Europe for some time. This ocean route, gave the Portuguese a strategic advantage, allowing them to avoid the volatile old trade routes that went through the Mediterranean and Arab world.
Vasco Da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India was significant in establishing a permanent route from Europe to India. ‘Vasco da Gama landed here’ – the memorial marking the moment | Wikimedia Commons
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