1497day.year
Vasco da Gama sets sail on the first direct European voyage to India.
In 1497, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama sets sail from Lisbon on the first direct sea voyage from Europe to India, paving the way for a new era of global trade.
On July 8, 1497, Vasco da Gama departed Lisbon with a fleet of four ships, determined to find a maritime route to India.
His expedition rounded the Cape of Good Hope and navigated the Indian Ocean, relying on new navigational techniques.
Da Gama's successful arrival in Calicut in 1498 opened direct spice trade between Europe and Asia.
This voyage bypassed traditional overland routes controlled by Middle Eastern and Venetian merchants.
The expedition marked the beginning of European colonial and commercial dominance in the Indian Ocean.
It also established Portugal as a leading maritime power and transformed global trade networks.
1497
Vasco da Gama