Born: 1460
Died: 1524
Known for: Discovering an all-water route from Europe to India.
De Gama sailed from Lisbon to reach India and created open sea route from Europe to the east.
Chosen by King Manuel to search for the route from Western Europe to the East. At this time, Muslims held a monopoly of the trade routes from India and other Eastern nations. De Gama left at July 1497 with four vessels he was finally able to round the Cape of Good Hope at Africa's Southern tip in late November. he then traveled north along Africa's Eastern Coast. but with some help from a local Eastern navigator’s help, he was able to cross the Indian Ocean and reach the coast of India in May 1498.
Hindu population initially welcome the Portuguese