1497day.year
Vasco da Gama passes the Great Fish River at the southern tip of Africa, where Bartolomeu Dias had previously turned back to Portugal.
Explorer Vasco da Gama crosses the Great Fish River at Africa's southern tip, surpassing Bartolomeu Dias' previous limit and advancing Europe-India navigation.
On December 16, 1497, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama reached and crossed the Great Fish River (modern Great Kei River) at Africa's southernmost point. Bartolomeu Dias had charted this far in 1488 but turned back, making da Gama the first to maintain course toward India. His voyage opened a new sea route around Africa, reducing reliance on Mediterranean trade routes controlled by Venetian and Ottoman intermediaries. The expedition faced storms, supplies shortages, and navigational challenges along the treacherous Cape of Good Hope. Da Gama’s success marked a turning point in global trade and European maritime dominance. It paved the way for Portugal’s lucrative Indian Ocean empire. The journey demonstrated the capabilities of late 15th-century naval technology and cartography. It reshaped commerce, diplomacy, and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia.
1497
Vasco da Gama
Great Fish River
Africa
Bartolomeu Dias