Vasco da Gama's Voyage of Discovery (2000)

By many accounts, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was a pleasant yet intensely curious man, eager to help his country discover new pathways to other countries. He will always be remembered for his 1... read more 5th century trip that took him from Mossel Bay around Africa, past the Cape of Good Hope to Mozambique, and then up to Calcutta. Everywhere he went, Vasco da Gama tried to establish new trading posts and convert all Muslims to Christianity. Historians often refer to his "voyage of discovery" as one that marked the beginning of the colonial era in the Orient, ushering in the dawning of the "sea age." King Manuel I tried to properly reward da Gama for his bravery and discoveries by giving him many honors, including the title of Earl of Vidigueira and a significant yearly allowance. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi