On May 20th, 1498, Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed at what is now Kozhikode in India. It was the first recorded trip made directly from Europe to India, via the Atlantic Ocean. He opened up the sea route to the spice haven in Asia. Exploring a new sea route allowed the Portuguese to avoid travelling through the highly disputed Mediterranean, and the dangerous Arabian Peninsula.
Da Gama’s discovery of the sea route to India was significant as it also opened the way for an age of global imperialism, and for the Portuguese to establish a colonial empire in Asia. Before Da Gama, many sailors tried to reach India, and thousands of lives and dozens of vessels were lost in shipwrecks and attacks. Unopposed access to the Indian spice routes boosted the economy of the Portuguese Empire. The Portuguese were able to obtain spices such as pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg from Southeast Asia, which were all new to Europe. Only a century later could other European countries challenge Portugal’s monopoly?
