Vasco da Gama Reaches India

1498 CE · exploration

In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama became the first European to reach India (Calicut) by sea, rounding the southern tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope).

This route, by bypassing Muslim and Venetian intermediaries in the spice trade, inaugurated Portugal's maritime empire and Europe's age of global maritime commerce.

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Frequently asked questions

What was Vasco da Gama Reaches India?
In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama became the first European to reach India (Calicut) by sea, rounding the southern tip of Africa (the Cape of Good Hope).
When did Vasco da Gama Reaches India happen?
1498 CE