Question 1

He sailed away from the coast of Africa, out into an empty Atlantic, for ninety-three days — on purpose. Why was that the fastest way to India?

Accepted Answer

Because hugging the coast means fighting the wind the whole way. The volta do mar — a huge loop out into the open Atlantic to pick up westerlies in the south — was the hard-won Portuguese secret that made the Cape route work.

Question 2

Vasco da Gama: what happened in 8 July 1497?

Accepted Answer

Four ships leave Lisbon — The São Gabriel, São Rafael, Bérrio and a storeship, with about 170 men and orders to reach India and come back with proof.

Question 3

Vasco da Gama: what happened in Aug–Nov 1497?

Accepted Answer

The great Atlantic arc — Ninety-three days without sight of land, sweeping far out towards the coast of Brazil before curving back east to the Cape. The longest open-ocean passage attempted to that date.

Question 4

Vasco da Gama: what happened in April 1498?

Accepted Answer

A pilot at Malindi — After hostility at Mombasa, the ruler of Malindi provides a navigator who knows the monsoon crossing. Without him the fleet does not reach India.

Question 5

Vasco da Gama: what happened in 20 May 1498?

Accepted Answer

Calicut — The sea route to India is complete. The Zamorin's court is unimpressed by the gifts, and a merchant from Tunis asks the Portuguese, in Spanish, what on earth brought them here.

Question 6

Vasco da Gama: what happened in 1502–1503?

Accepted Answer

The second voyage: force — Twenty armed ships return to impose Portuguese terms. Calicut is bombarded; the pilgrim ship Mîrî is burned with hundreds of people aboard. It is documented by his own side.

Vasco da Gama — Indian Ocean · 1498 · the sea road to India · Great Explorers

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