Who was he?Who was he?

• Portuguese explorerPortuguese explorer

• Born in Sines a small Born in Sines a small port in southern port in southern Portugal in 1460Portugal in 1460

• This was the same This was the same year the Henry the year the Henry the Navigator diedNavigator died

• Vasco da Gama Vasco da Gama joined the navyjoined the navy

Where was he going?Where was he going?

• Vasco da Gama Vasco da Gama was the next was the next Portuguese sailor Portuguese sailor to find a route to to find a route to India. He was India. He was chosen by the King chosen by the King of Portugal to lead of Portugal to lead this expedition this expedition which was due to which was due to set off on the set off on the 8th 8th July 1497July 1497 from from Lisbon.Lisbon.

• Bartholomew Diaz Bartholomew Diaz personally personally supervised the supervised the preparations for da preparations for da Gama’s journey. Gama’s journey. The fleet consisted The fleet consisted of four ships, two of of four ships, two of which were which were specially specially constructed. They constructed. They were called naos.were called naos.

• On the 18On the 18thth of of November 1497 he November 1497 he sighted the Cape of sighted the Cape of Good Hope – and Good Hope – and

Diaz’s padrao. Diaz’s padrao. They continued to They continued to

sail northwards sail northwards along the African along the African

coast.coast.

• In March In March 14981498, they , they sailed to Mozambique sailed to Mozambique and Mombassa. and Mombassa. Vasco da Gama tried Vasco da Gama tried to trade goods but his to trade goods but his gifts were scorned gifts were scorned and the Muslims and the Muslims there were not very there were not very pleased to see them. pleased to see them. They though that They though that their spice trade their spice trade might be at risk.might be at risk. Cotton, ivory, gold

and pearls were also traded here, which da Gama wasn’t expecting.

• Da Gama and his Da Gama and his men did not get on men did not get on very well with the very well with the Muslims there Muslims there because they were because they were Christians. Christians. Arguments and Arguments and fights broke out as fights broke out as the Muslims were the Muslims were very protective over very protective over their successful their successful spice tradespice trade

• After this they moved After this they moved across the Indian across the Indian Ocean and arrived in a Ocean and arrived in a town called Calicut town called Calicut (which is now known (which is now known as Calcutta) in May as Calcutta) in May 1498. Here they were 1498. Here they were able to get peppers, able to get peppers, cloves, cinnamon, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and jewels.nutmeg and jewels.

The journey homeThe journey home

• The journey back to The journey back to Portugal was terrible. Portugal was terrible. Not only had the Not only had the journey there been journey there been long but they now had long but they now had to go back. They had to go back. They had already travelled already travelled around 33,000km around 33,000km (20,500 miles). Da (20,500 miles). Da Gama’s crew suffered Gama’s crew suffered terribly from scurvy. terribly from scurvy. Out of a crew of 148 Out of a crew of 148 men only 55 returned:men only 55 returned:– How many men died?How many men died?

They arrived back in Portugal in September 1499.

So what was actually good So what was actually good about his journey?about his journey?

•Vasco da Gama had finally Vasco da Gama had finally shown that Europeans shown that Europeans couldcould reach India by the sea!reach India by the sea!

TasksTasks

• Activity 22, p.45Activity 22, p.45– Write notes in your jotter for each dateWrite notes in your jotter for each date– Use the timeline on the board to help you Use the timeline on the board to help you

remember where you were at the timeremember where you were at the time

• Collect a diary entry to stick into your Collect a diary entry to stick into your jotter. Pretend you were a young sailor at jotter. Pretend you were a young sailor at sea with da Gama. Write an entry into sea with da Gama. Write an entry into your diary to tell people what it was like to your diary to tell people what it was like to go on the expedition.go on the expedition.