Vasco da Gama was a great explorer from Portugal. He was born in 1469. He is most famous for finding a route around Africa to Asia.

He was at court when King Manuel the First chose him take the expedition . The king had planned out that he would follow Bartholomew Diaz’s route but go farther and go to Asia. He took four ships on his voyage: The Sao Gabriel, The Sao Rafael, The Carvel Berrio and a storage ship.

Most people thought it was impossible to go to Asia because they thought the Indian Ocean was not connected to any other oceans, but da Gama didn't pay any attention to them and set off in 1497. When he arrived in Cape of Good Hope in 1488 he met some natives and he made them slaves. When a native was not cooperating he would pour a really, really, really hot bowl of water on their bare skin!

He returned to Portugal in 1499. Vasco Da Gama had found a route to Asia!

When Vasco Da Gama was in Portugal he settled there, got married, and raised a family.

King Manuel sent him on another voyage to Asia in 1502. He returned in 1503. When King Manuel died, King John the 3rd sent da Gama to India (again).

Vasco da Gama died in India in 1524. Without him we would have never found that route to Asia until maybe a year or two later! Vasco Da Gama was a very important man in history!

Bibliography

1. http//library.thinkquest.org/4034/dagama.html

2. http://en.wikipediia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama

3. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/dagama.shtml

4. Around The World In A Hundred Years From Henry The Navigator To Magellan by Jean Fritz, G.P Putnam’s Sons, New York