"Examines the life of explorer Vasco da Gama, including his childhood in Portugal, his three expeditions to India, opening up the spice trade and expanding Portugal's empire, and his legacy in world history"--Provided by publisher.

This Portuguese navigator's initial voyage to India in 1497-1499 opened up the sea route from Western Europe to the East by way of the Cape of Good Hope. This changed the world's balance of power and helped make his home country one of the richest and pow

Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was a bold and brutal adventurer who was the first European to find an all-sea route to India. Along the way, he made contact with local people in South Africa, Mozambique, and the Indian kingdom of Calicut. Though revered in his time for helping Portugal become a powerful force on the world stage, da Gama is also remembered as a controversial figure for his forceful and cruel behavior in Africa and India. This warts-and-all biography identifies da Gama’s achievements while also offering an unsparing examination of the darker aspects of his life and legacy.

Presents the life and career of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama focusing on a blend of the facts and legends around him.

Describes the fifteenth century voyages taken by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama who furthered his nation's power by expanding trade routes to India.

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the life of Vasco da Gama in next to no time with this concise guide. 50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of the maritime voyages of Vasco da Gama. In a daring voyage in the late 15th century, Vasco da Gama became the first European to reach India by sea. The new trading route he opened brought wealth to the Portuguese Crown and resulted in profound geopolitical changes in Europe and Asia, but his voyages were also marked by intense cruelty towards the indigenous inhabitants he encountered. In just 50 minutes you will: • Understand why the spice trade was so important in 15th and 16th century Europe • Learn about Da Gama’s three expeditions to India and their aims and outcomes • Evaluate the political and economic impact of his voyages, both in Portugal and in India ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | History & Culture 50MINUTES.COM will enable you to quickly understand the main events, people, conflicts and discoveries from world history that have shaped the world we live in today. Our publications present the key information on a wide variety of topics in a quick and accessible way that is guaranteed to save you time on your journey of discovery.