The Age of Discovery

1243 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Trade in the indian ocean 800-1500

The Age of Discovery which began in the 15th century was one of the ground breaking time periods for European global exploration to Africa and India, and which lead to the ascending of European power. While there were many prominent explorers during this era such as Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco da Gama is widely seen as one of the most successful explorers of this time period. He not only found the first all ocean route from Europe to India but he also solidified Portugal as a powerhouse in the Eastern spice trade with India. Through my discussion of Vasco da Gama’s early life and the exploration voyages he commanded, this will further support his significant role in Maritime history.
While little is known about Vasco da Gama’s early life before he became an explorer, accounts show that he was the third youngest out of five sons and was born in Sine’s, Portugal in 1460 into a noble family. His father Estevao da Gama was a nobleman who served as a knight for the household of Prince Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu and around this time he also joined the military “Order of Santiago”. Because of his noble duties, Estevao was also given the title of Civil governor of Sine’s until 1478, wherein his title gave him the responsibility of collecting taxes and dues in the surrounding areas of Sine’s. His mother was Isabel Sodre and she also had royal connections because her father and brothers were involved in the military “Order of Christ” and they had close ties with Infante Diogo, Duke of Viseu, who was the son of Infante Ferdinand. Due to his family’s status, Vasco was deemed for success and as a child he studied mathematics and navigation under the astronomer Abraham Zacuto in Evora, Portugal. Vasco had much inf...

... middle of paper ...

... 23, 1524.

Works Cited

1. "Vasco Da Gama Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://www.biography.com/people/vasco-da-gama-9305736?page=3
2. "Vasco Da Gama." BBC News. BBC, nod. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/da_gama_vasco.shtml
3. "Vasco Da Gama." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama
4. "Vasco Da Gama." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/vasco-da-gama
5. Knight, Kevin. "Vasco Da Gama." CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA:. New Advent, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374a.htm
6. Szalay, Jessie. "Vasco Da Gama: Facts & Biography." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 21 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2014. http://www.livescience.com/39078-vasco-da-gama.html

Show More
Related

  • How Did Christopher Columbus's Relationship With The Spanish Crown Change Over Time?

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    One question posed by the authors is “How did Columbus’s relationship with the Spanish crown change over time, and why?” In simple terms, Columbus’s relationship with the

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Christopher Columbus And Cabeza De Vaca

    338 Words  | 1 Pages

    Reading both passages of the two explorers, Christopher Columbus and Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, gives a great description of how the world was back in the 1500s. Now, although both were Spaniard explorers, each had different experiences and discoveries. One of the differences is how they approached exploring the new world. For instance, Columbus went to find new land in the west, while Cabeza de Vaca went as an expedition to already found lands. In addition, Columbus had a lot of success, while Cabeza de Vaca since the beginning, because of Narváez, “endured many disasters” (Baym, et al., 2013, p. 28). Furthermore, Christopher Columbus considered most important to find more land, and especially the route to reach Asia.

    Read More

  • What Fundamental Factors Drew Europeans to The Exploration, Conquest, and Settlement of the New World?

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Toward the end of pre-colonial times in Europe, due to the fall of Constantinople, many European nations felt the need to find an alternate route to the East Indies. The trade of rare goods such as spices, rice, exotic fruits and silk fabrics were much in demand, but came at extreme prices. In the beginning of the ‘Age of Exploration’, Portugal was in the forefront with the early explorers Henry the Navigator, Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira, and Diogo Silves discovering the Madeira Islands, the Azores, and the exploration of Africa respectively, but King John the II of Portugal was unconvinced by Christopher Columbus’s pleas to fund his plan to sail West to the East Indies. Columbus made many demands for self-profit, including ten percent of any riches with which he returned, and even an ‘Admiralty’. Subsequently, Columbus took his plans to Queen Isabella of Spain. Spain acquiesced, and Columbus set off on his fateful journey. The Roman Catholic Church was very interested in expanding the Christian faith during this time and applied its influence on the monarchy. Religion also played a large personal role as Columbus truly believed that God spoke to him, and guided his hand. Additionally, at this time in Europe, land and food were at a premium. The monarchs of the era were fully aware that the acquisition of more land, slave labor and possible natural resources would greatly increase their power, prestige and subsequent wealth. After learning of Columbus’ successful return and the Treaty of Tordesillas (which divided the New World between Spain and Portugal), King Henry VII of England threw his hat into the ring and sent John Cabot sailing from Bristol on an attempt to find a shorter route to the ‘Indies’. Not to be left out in ...

    Read More

  • Naval Technology: 1450-1750

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    The development of such vessels as the caravel and carrack allowed for the great expansion of this trade-driven exploration. The caravel, a small, lateen-rigged ship of 12-18 meters (Russel, 229) , was developed as a fishing boat in the early 13th century, in Portugal. Its maneuverability and speed made it possible for explorers, merchants, and fisherman alike, to go further, faster. The Caravel would become the backbone of early Spanish and Portuguese exploration, and the model on which many other vessels were based. Columbus used two caravels in his ‘discovery’ of the new world: the Niña and the Pinta; and Vasco Da Gama used the caravel Berrio in his expedition around Africa.

    Read More

  • The Exploration of Hernando de Soto

    2944 Words  | 6 Pages

    Milanich, Jerald T. and Susan Milbrath., ed. First Encounters: Spanish Exploration in the Caribbean and the United States1492-1570. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1989.

    Read More

  • Age Of Exploration Dbq

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Age of Exploration brought many unforeseen changes to the people of Africa. On a path seeking gold, glory, and God, many explorers reached new parts of Africa. Explorers were seeking a more direct route to Asia and believed they must travel through Africa to reach these Asian lands. Namely, Portugal was interested in this under the direction of Prince Henry. There, he believed they could capture the riches of Muslim trade and convert the natives to Christianity. King Henry died before the route to Asia could be accomplished but he laid the groundwork for later exploration and encounters with Africa. During the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, Europeans desire to find Asia greatly impacted the lives of native Africans through the slave

    Read More

  • The Columbian Exchange : Trading Corn For Smallpox

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    If Native Americans were able to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in the time shortly before Christopher Columbus, would they have been able to conquer and colonize countries like Spain or Portugal? Assuming this were even possible, there are a significant factor that would have given the old world an upper hand in such a scenario. This paper will show that even if the Native Americans would have been the first to reach out and make contact, history would have still favored the Iberians.

    Read More

  • What Is The Letter To Christopher Columbus Santangel

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    Published in 1493, Luis Santangel received the embellished journal of Christopher Columbus as validation for the much-promised riches in the Indies. Centered around an era of power and conquest, Columbus tapered his writings and findings to pacify his Royal sponsors for the voyage. Santangel was also one such wealthy sponsor. Although the tone of the letter was vastly hyperbolic, Christopher Columbus still managed to document the labeling of the numerous islands and its topography. Yet even the size and measurement is a bit exaggerated as well referring to one island being twice as large as that of Great Britain and Scotland. Columbus did his best to acknowledge various “thousands upon thousands” in this letter with that of spiceries and gold mines with mountains in a “thousand shapes...full of trees of a thousand kinds” as well as deeming the exotic islands incomparable to any other islands that “there could be no believing without seeing” firsthand. Colu...

    Read More

  • The Columbian Exchange

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    The immediate cause of the European voyages of discovery was the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. While Egypt and Italian city-state of Venice was left with a monopoly on ottoman trade for spices and eastern goods it allowed Portugal and Spain to break the grip by finding an Atlantic route. Portugal took the lead in the Atlantic exploration because of the reconquest from the Muslims, good finances, and their long standing seafaring traditions. In dealing with agriculture, The Portuguese discovered Brazil on accident, but they concentrated on the Far East and used Brazil as a ground for criminals. Pernambuco, the first area to be settled, became the world’s largest sugar producer by 1550. Pernambuco was a land of plantations and Indian slaves. While the market for sugar grew so did the need for slaves. Therefore the African Slave start became greatly into effect. Around 1511 Africans began working as slaves in the Americas. In 1492, Columbus embarked on his voyage from Spain to the Americas. The Euro...

    Read More

  • Impact of the Bourgeoisie on Exploration During the Age of Discovery

    2318 Words  | 5 Pages

    Thesis: Most people believe that The Age of Discovery was the product of a handful of adventurous explorers. They were an important part of this Age, but theirs was not the main motivation. I believe however, that the Bourgeoisie provided the impetus of this Age.

    Read More

  • The End of Absolutism in Europe

    812 Words  | 2 Pages

    Russell-Wood, A. J. R. Portuguese empire, 1415-1808 a world on the move. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins UP, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • The Emerging American Character During the 1700’s

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another great navigator from Portugal was Henry the navigator, he was the prince of Portugal who began to establish an observatory and also a school of navigation, and he also directed many long voyages that ignited the growth of Portugal’s colonial empire.

    Read More

  • Spain And Portugal Analysis

    1449 Words  | 3 Pages

    The sixteenth century was a time of economic growth for Portugal and Spain because of their various voyages to places, such as China and Brazil. Spain and Portugal were competing for land, resources, trade posts, and profit in the New World and Asia as seen in the making of the Treaty of Tordesillas and Treaty of Saragossa in 1494 and 1529, respectively. The Treaty of Tordesillas created a demarcation in the Atlanta Ocean for the future empires of the Spanish and Portuguese. The Treaty of Saragossa added another demarcation, but the demarcation was in the Pacific Ocean. Economic prosperity was not immediate and there were plenty of obstacles to overcome in these new lands. Spain and Portugal’s culture, people, and environment differed

    Read More

  • The Scientific Revolution

    1262 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, radical and controversial ideas were created in what would become a time period of great advances. The Scientific Revolution began with a spark of inspiration that spread a wild fire of ideas through Europe and America. The new radical ideas affected everything that had been established and proven through religious views. "The scientific revolution was more radical and innovative than any of the political revolutions of the seventeenth century."1 All of the advances that were made during this revolutionary time can be attributed to the founders of the Scientific Revolution.

    Read More

  • History Of Science And Technology

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Science and Technology has been around from the beginning of time. It evolved from the everyday efforts of people trying to improve their way of life. Throughout history, humankind has developed and utilized tools, machines, and techniques without understanding how or why they worked or comprehending their physical or chemical composition. Before we go any further a definition has to be given for both Science and Technology because they are both different in their own right even though the two are almost indistinguishable. According to the Oxford Dictionary Technology can be defined as the knowledge or use of the mechanical arts and applied sciences, while Science can be defined as the branch of knowledge involving systematized observation and experiment. Science can be further divided into three separate categories; Pure, Applied and Natural Sciences. In addition technology is often defined as applied science, it is simply the application of scientific knowledge to achieve a specific human purpose, however, historical evidence suggests technology is a product of science.

    Read More

More about The Age of Discovery

Open Document