The emergence of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean and their attack on the monopoly of Arab and Indian traders in Indian trade quickly led to a latent state of war. Through suspicious trade agreements and Portugals permanent presence in the Indian Ocean they were able to develop a monopoly for foreign spices in Europe. The Portuguese were able to succeed against the Indian fleet and was then able to built the first fort, strengthening Portugals position in India. When the fleet arrived India, attacking their trade monopoly, a state of war evolved instantly. The second journey to India by Vasco da Gama followed in 1502, but this time with heavily armored ships. Statue of Vasco da Gama at Sines, looking out to sea due south The Second Journey to India But when he reached Portugal in September of the same year with many goods and spices, he was cordially received with a great procession. The crewвЂ™s first ship reached Lissabon in the early Summer of 1499 while Vasco da GamaвЂ™s ship stayed a few weeks longer at the Azores due to the serious illness of his brother who was the commander of the second ship of the fleet. There, da Gama was to trade important spices and resources, unfortunately only with moderate success. On May 20, 1498, the Portugese sailors finally reached IndiaвЂ™s Malabar Coast as the first European Ships of all times. They traveled to Mombasa in April of the next year, and to Malindi, where the travelers took a helping navigator on board. The crew was highly experienced with the weather and sea conditions of the south Atlantic-Ocean and on November 4, they reached the westcoast of South Africa. The aim of the expedition was to eliminate the Arab, Persian, Turkish and Venetian intermediary trade, which made spices such as pepper extremely expensive in Europe.Дa Gama and his crew left the port of Lissabon on Jwith the 120t ship SГЈo Gabriel, and two other boats, the SГЈo Rafael, and BГ©rrio. This search had already been started 80 years earlier by Henry the Navigator. In addition, Bartolomeu Dias, the conqueror of the Cape of Good Hope, accompanied the small fleet to the Cape Verde Islands. Manuel I also made it possible for Vasco da Gama to join the Order of the Knights of Christ.В The possibly missing maritime knowledge of Vasco da Gama was compensated by the best pilots and helmsmen of Portugal, who knew the waters to be navigated вЂ“ as far as they were known to the Portuguese at all. What is certain, however, is that Gama had very good relations with King Manuel I of Portugal, who had ruled since 1495, and was considered a man who enjoyed the kingвЂ™s trust.

The two contemporaries and chroniclers JoГЈo de Barros and DamiГЈo de GГіis point out that he had succeeded his father, who under John II had been one of the most important advocates of the search for the sea route to India around Africa.

Why Vasco da Gama was chosen as commander-in-chief for the trip to India has not yet been clearly explained. Da Gama earned himself a great reputation during this year and was soon promoted and nominated to travel to India. In 1495 da Gama was appointed Commander of the two Commanderies of the Order of Santiago, Mouguelas and Chouparia, in recognition of his services. Vasco da Gama took retaliatory measures against French merchant ships in the port of SetГєbal and in ports in the Algarve in response to attacks by French pirates on Portuguese ships off the West African coast. The first historical record of Vasco da GamaвЂ™s life dates back to 1480, the year in which he joined the Knights of Santiago. His parents were EstГЄvГЈo da Gama (governor of Sines and Silves) and Isabel SodrГ©, whose family originally came from England and had good family relations with the Order of the Knights of Christ. Little is known about Vasco da GamaвЂ™s youth and life before his great voyage of discovery.

Vasco da Gama was born into a family of noblemen, his father belonged to the Order of Santiago and was occupied with several administrative tasks. He was one of the most successful explorers in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India. On December 24, 1524, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira, passed away.

Vasco da gama spice trade