Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea through one of the sea routes he discovered. He helped expand European trade and influenced many cultural discoveries in Europe. He also helped spread ideas throughout the known world. Vasco da Gama is still acknowledged today as a well-known explorer for discovering the sea route to India. This sea route helped benefit trade and commute, which is still used today for tourist purposes, because of Vasco da Gama’s first exploration discovery. Vasco da Gama was born in 1460 into a noble family. He was Estavo da Gama’s third son. “When Vasco was old enough he joined the navy, where he learned how to navigate ships.” (Britannica Encyclopedia .com, “Vasco de Gama”) At the time, Portugal was the one of the most powerful maritime countries in all of Europe. Because of his well known reputation as a navigator, he continued his dad's objective to find sea routes to India. “King Manuel I, chose da Gama to lead a Portuguese fleet to India in search of a maritime route from Western Europe to …show more content…
He married her after the return from his first voyage. He later retired to the town of Evora. He was later granted additional privileges and revenues from King Manuel Later in life, after the death of King Manuel, da Gama was asked to return to India, in an effort to contend with the growing corruption from Portuguese officials in the country. For the next 20 years, da Gama continued to advise the Portuguese ruler on Indian affairs, but he was not sent back to the region until 1524. “King John III became the king after King Manuel died. In 1524, King John III named da Gama Portuguese viceroy in India “ (Biography.com)”. Vasco da Gama had administrative abuses that had crept in under his predecessors. Later that year Vasco da Gama died in December 1524 in Cochin. Later his body was sent back to Portugal and was buried