He is often credited for discovering the sea route from western Europe to the East by way of the Cape of Good Hope. When did Vasco da Gama discover the sea route to India? Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, in July 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and anchored at Malindi on the east coast of Africa. Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama becomes the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean when he arrives at Calicut on the Malabar Coast. Vasco da Gama left on his first voyage from Lisbon, Portugal on July 8, 1497.

He was also told to find any other trading opportunities along the way.

The King of Portugal figured if he could find a way to get to India by sailing on the ocean, he would become rich trading spices in Europe. Why did Vasco da Gama go on his first voyage? The plan for working on the Cape Route to India was charted by Portuguese King John II as a cost saving measure in the trade with Asia and also an attempt to monopolize the spice trade. Why did the Portuguese sail directly to India? Over the course of two voyages, beginning in 14, da Gama landed and traded in locales along the coast of southern Africa before reaching India on May 20, 1498. Portuguese were the first to find a sea route to India. So they desperately needed to find a new sea route to minimize this cost. This led to a very high prices of spice in Europe. What is the reason for discovering sea route to India?Įuropeans had to pay money to the people of the region from where their trade goods were transported. He soon fell ill, and in December 1524 he died in Cochin. Da Gama’s Later Life and Last Voyage to India Da Gama arrived in Goa with the task of combating the growing corruption that had tainted the Portuguese government in India.

Why was vasco da gama important