| Vasco da Gama (c.1469-1524) | |
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Prince Henry the Navigator inspired the first era of Portuguese exploration of the coast of Africa and beyond, starting in the 1430's |
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By 1494, Portugal and Spain were prepared to divide the whole non-European world between them, in the Treaty of Tordesillas |
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Early depictions of Vasco da Gama; *a map showing his route*; on his voyages see *Kerr, 2:6:1* |
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On his first voyage (1498-99), he arrived in Calicut on May 20, 1498; many artists have imagined his famous first meeting with the Zamorin (from "Samudra-raja," or "ocean lord") of Calicut |
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CUT* |
He left some men at Calicut to set up a trading post, but the Zamorin later had them killed; on his second voyage, his military successes and vengeful cruelties helped him wrest trade concessions from the Zamorin |
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On his second voyage (1502-03) he visited Cochin, as well as *Cananore*, *Quilon*, and other small ports along the *Malabar Coast* |
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From his and others' voyages there soon grew up the major Portuguese trading fort and colony in Goa, and other, smaller settlements like *Daman*, and *Diu* |
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He died in Cochin (1524), on a third voyage; the Portuguese seem to have a real fascination with commemorative medals of him and other early explorers |
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He features very prominently in the *"Lusiad"* (1572), the Portuguese national epic by Luis de Camões |
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*Luis de Camões* (1524-1580), who himself spent time in Goa, was as colorful a character as the explorers whom he celebrated |
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Vasco da Gama is well represented in statues, too |
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Some contemporary visions of da Gama |