In the 15th century, Portugal was evolving into a powerful country with some of the best marine navigators assisting them to establish trading bases in many parts of the world. It was fortunate to have the technical services of the Portuguese, Arabs and Jews especially in the field of astronomy and maritime science.

The primary reason for attempting to reach India via the sea route was the search for an unfettered access to spices.

Spice, of course, was known to man from prehistoric times when meats were most likely flavoured with aromatic leaves and fruits. Different spices were used in ancient Chinese medicine; and a variety of spices and herbs were grown and used by the Babylonians. Europeans are thought to have first come into contact with spices during the medieval years when there were fierce inter-religious conflicts.

During the 15th Century the demand for spices soared.

The price of pepper rose astronomically on its way from Calicut to Venice via Cairo and Alexandria. It was the era when refrigeration had not yet been discovered and hence, tons of meat were being wasted. They needed the spices to preserve the meat. Spices were available in the east.......in Zanzibar and India among other places. The spice trade itself, was controlled by the powerful and well oiled but monopolistic and vicious Arab-Turk-Venitian cartel.

The land-route to and from these spices was under the control of the various Muslim rulers or their strongmen. Toll booths along the way meant that the cost of these spices was forbidding. Besides, the lives of those who traveled in search of these spices was forever at risk. Thugs of all sorts preyed upon travelers and traders. It was not the easiest of times !

So, Portugal, with its then-powerful navy felt that the treacherous sea route to India was probably safer than the land route through hostile Muslim-controlled territory. This way they would be able to import spices directly from the Indian subcontinent bypassing the Arabs and their middlemen. The problem was to find someone determined enough to chart it. Many an expedition had ended up in disaster.

Another facet in this equation was the intensely hostile relationship between the Iberians and the Muslims ever since the Muslim Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 711. Portugal as we know it now was founded in 1140. And even though there remains Moorish influence on Portuguese life, music, food, genetics and names (e.g. Fatima), there was no love lost between the Portuguese and the Muslims. Striking Arab features are to be found in a significant number of Portuguese people.

The port of Calicut was already known to the Portuguese. The land explorer Pero de Covilhã had visited it in 1487. The task was now to find the sea-route to it. A year later, in 1488, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa in an attempt to get to India. It is only a mutiny on board that forced Dias to turn around.

A corollary to this is a query regarding the Christopher Columbus trip to '' reach India via the West'' in 1492. The various land travelers including Marco Polo had described the land extending from India to the east. The Portuguese already knew in 1488, at least that the West Coast of India was on the other side of the Arabian Sea from East Africa. So, why then would Columbus try to reach India via the West ? This would take him to the East Coast of India ! Unless of course, Columbus (Colon) was not really intent on reaching India !

VASCO da GAMA and the historic Voyage !

Vasco da Gama was born in 1469 in Sines, Alemtejo, Portugal. His father Estevao da Gama was the Alcaide of Sines who also held a post in the court of King Afonso V. Little is known of the early childhood or adolescence of Vasco da Gama, except that he grew up in a maritime environment learning very early in life to fish, swim and sail. At age 15 he became a sailor, studied astronomy and navigation at Evora, and became a naval officer in 1492 at the age of 23. Vasco da Gama played a role in the defence of the Portuguese-held territories on the West African coast as well as in the Algarve and Setubal coastal area against the French incursions.

It is Bartolomeu Dias who was first chosen to chart the sea-route to India. But with the rigors of the journey and scurvy at the time a fatal mystery illness, Bartolomeu faced a mutiny from his sailors. His fleet had already rounded the Cape and had a short distance ahead, but the mutiny forced him to return.

After this aborted attempt by Bartolomeu Dias, the mantle to lead the expedition to India would fall on Estevao da Gama ( Vasco's father ). But as fate would have it, Estevao died before the project details could be finalized. A replacement was sought. It would have to be a leader more capable in controlling any future mutinies on the high seas. The grim and cynical bachelor Vasco da Gama was the forceful individual the King was looking for. He was of medium height, extremely hardworking and full of the spirit of challenge. Vasco da Gama had the reputation of being firm with little tolerance of revolt. He was known to be inflexible in his decision to punish the delinquent. He was also a minor 'nobleman' in the Royal Court and hence known to the King.

After an interview, King Manuel of Portugal commissioned Vasco da Gama to reach India by sea. Vasco was the person in whom the King '' could have confidence to serve the fleet in matters of the sea ''.

The King also commissioned the experienced Bartolomeu Dias to oversee the planning of the trip. Two new ships were built and two previously used ones refitted for the journey. All four ships were fitted with the best cannons available at the time in Europe. The ships were loaded with rations of food and wine to last for three years. Also stocked were items thought to be useful for purposes of trading like olive oil, cotton cloth, bacalhao, tin bells and the sort. No gold, silver or luxury goods, ideal for trading in India were carried on board. The Portuguese were perhaps quite oblivious to the level of luxury that the Indian princes and Arab traders were accustomed to.

Vasco da Gama personally recruited the crew to accompany him on this maiden voyage. It was not very easy to find recruits for this journey. Many promised to join the mission but few actually dared to show up. The voyage to India was seen as being fraught with immense dangers. Many were keen but few were willing. Eventually an assortment of individuals was put together for this voyage. Among the crew were 10 convicted killers whose sentences had been specially commuted. They were to be used for the suicidally dangerous missions anticipated en route.

Four ships were readied for this voyage. The 'Sao Gabriel' under the command of Vasco da Gama, The 'Sao Rafael' with Paulo da Gama ( Vasco's brother ) in command, The 'Berrio' under Nicolao Coelho and a supply ship under Gonçalo Nunes. In all there were 160 soldiers and sailors.

The Vasco da Gama fleet set sail from Lisbon on July 8, 1497. Voyages along the West African coast were both treacherous and long. The ships had to often sail against the winds and faced the almost inevitable danger of being shipwrecked. Vasco da Gama calculated that it would be a safer and quicker route to the South African tip if he stayed off the West African Coast.

Accordingly after the stops at the Açores and the Cabo Verde Islands, he veered south-west into the mid-Atlantic and reached the Cape of Good Hope on November 22, 1497. After rounding the Cape, the supply ship was set afire and the men and supplies were redistributed to the other three ships.

The east African coast was governed by various Sultanates. There were Sultanates at Querimbo, Quiloa, Sofala, Melindi and Mombassa. As expected, there were inter-Sultanate rivalries. This turned out to be fortuitous for Vasco da Gama fleet. They were forced out of Moçambique but welcomed in rival Melindi. The Sultan of Melindi saw the advantage of aligning himself with the Portuguese.

At Melindi, Vasco da Gama was able to observe the intricacies of the ongoing trade which had made the East African Sultans wealthy. A flourishing trade existed in gold, ivory and slaves which were being exported from East Africa to the Red Sea Towns, cities around the Arabian Gulf and to the various kingdoms on the Indian subcontinent. Vasco da Gama was no businessman and for him this was an excellent opportunity to learn the ropes of trade and commerce.

Melindi and Portugal signed the first ever treaty of peace and friendship between an East African territory and an European nation. The Sultan of Melindi assisted Vasco da Gama by providing him with an Arab pilot for the onward journey to India. The Arabs were well versed with the route from Africa to India as well as the monsoons.

On May 18, 1498, after a month at sea Vasco da Gama and his fleet, now under the guidance of the Arab pilot from Melindi, sighted the Malabar coast. There were quite a few Arab trading vessels in the coastal area, some more hostile than others. The owners of these boats were quite disturbed by the new presence in their midst. But even so, the better armed Vasco da Gama fleet was able to drop anchor at Calicut on May 22, 1498.

The Portuguese were interested in setting up a trading post in Calicut. Their primary intent was to buy spices which they could ship back to Portugal and resell to Europe. Also in Calicut at that time were Chinese and the Arabs traders who appeared to have a comfortable relationship. It may have been more than just a trading relationship. The famed Chinese explorer Admiral Zheng He who had helped set up the Chinese trading interests in South India was himself a Muslim. The hindu ruler of Calicut was Samudra-Raja ( Samudrin, Zamorin, Samorim). He had two major problems to contend with. The first problem was that he was the puppet of the rich and powerful Arab muslim traders. The Arab administrators were the effective bosses of the port of Calicut. The second was that he faced strong opposition from his mortal enemy, the Raja of Cochin.

This unexpected presence of the Portuguese fleet disturbed the status quo and added a further dimension to his problems. It was impossible for the Zamorin to allow Vasco da Gama to set up a trading post in Calicut without upsetting the Arab traders. The Arabs were not going to give up their spice trade monopoly that easily. Besides they had other trading partners in East Africa, Egypt, the Gulf and in Venice. They all had a lot to lose if the existing arrangements were interfered with. Enormous pressure was exerted on the Zamorin to force him to deny the Portuguese any trading privileges in Calicut.

The Portuguese too did not provide him with any incentive to help the Zamorin to support them. Vasco da Gama's gifts to the ruler were infinitely poorer in quality and were even seen as offensive to be offered to a ruler who was accustomed to much more luxurious riches. The Arabs capitalized on this gross 'diplomatic' blunder by Vasco da Gama. The letter from King Manuel that Vasco da Gama brought along was just not effective in counteracting the stiff Arab opposition. It was an opposition Vasco da Gama had not really anticipated. He may have had the military means to fight off any pirates he encountered during the journey but he did not have the mustard to enforce an agreement with the Zamorin. However, he was 'allowed' to set up a small depot in Calicut and nothing more. This tiny depot would only be allowed to make token purchases.

Unable to do any better Vasco da Gama left Aires Correia and a few merchants in charge of this depot and decided to head back home. He  left Calicut on August 29, 1498. On their way back to Portugal, the fleet stopped over at Melindi. A fine reception was accorded to them by the Sultan. But the ordeal of the journey had taken its toll on the crew. There were many casualties. On January 13, 1499 the Sao Rafael was ordered burnt as there were insufficient crew members to man it. The flotilla then began the long journey back to Portugal. En route Paulo da Gama, Vasco's brother fell ill. Vasco da Gama allowed the others to proceed while he stopped over on the island of Terceira. This is where he laid Paulo to rest. He then proceed to Lisbon where he arrived on July 29, 1499, having spent over two years overseas .

The Portuguese saw this circumnavigation of Africa en route to India as a major achievement. And so it was. They also realized the commercial potential of this achievement. Now, Lisbon and not Venice would be the new spice capital of Europe. This would mean more wealth for the Portuguese and a significant shift in the balance of power and influence towards the Iberian peninsula. Accordingly, King Manuel notified as many European capitals as possible. The Vatican too was very interested in this new development. There was also this ' possibility ' that the Portuguese had finally located the Christians converted in the first century by the Apostle St. Thomas and even greater prospects of more conversions now.

It appears that in all this euphoria, the trials and tribulations of the exhausting journey were forgotten by those in power. There were few left to tell the story and fewer still with the time or inclination to listen. These were after all - exciting times ! That two-thirds of the crew which left Lisbon for this trip succumbed to scurvy and the various skirmishes sea. The fact that they did not return, somehow seemed unimportant. Emphasis was placed on the success of this mission and little thought given to the loss of life or the perils faced to achieve the goal .

Upon Vasco da Gama's return to Lisbon he was accorded high praise and honour.

In 1500 King Manuel sent Pedro Alvares Cabral to complete the job in India that Vasco da Gama had set out to do - to set up a trading post at Calicut. King Manuel was by now aware of the difficulties Vasco da Gama experienced in his mission in Calicut. Cabral set out with with an fleet of 13 appropriately armed ships. However, while in the mid Atlantic, he strayed a few hundred miles west of the Vasco da Gama course and landed in Brasil. Several ships were sent back to Lisbon with a message to the King of this new landing in Brasil. And Cabral proceeded to India with only 6 ships. Upon arrival in Calicut, Cabral learnt that Aires Correia and the other Portuguese merchants left behind by Vasco da Gama were massacred by agents of the Arab traders.

Cabral proceeded to to friendly Cochin where he was welcomed by the Raja. and set up a trading post there. He also set up a depot at Cannanore. The cordial relationship with the Portuguese was eventually beneficial to the Raja of Cochin. The Portuguese helped Cochin repel many an attack from Calicut.

Cabral returned to Portugal with the grim news of the Calicut massacre. The news disturbed the Royal Court and was most upsetting to Vasco da Gama. In 1502 he returned to to Calicut with the intention of avenging the cold blooded murders of Aires Correia and his men. Vasco da Gama ordered his heavily armed flotilla of 16 ships to unleash a massive and fierce bombing raid on Calicut. The damage inflicted by this bombardment was significant. The Zamorin realized very quickly that neither he nor the Arabs had the firepower to match that of the Vasco da Gama armada. The 2000 yard range guns of the Portuguese easily outclassed the Zamorin guns which had a range of only 500 yards. Beaten into submission and with his Arab masters overawed by the Portuguese strength, the Zamorin quickly signed a trade agreement with Vasco da Gama.

This was the beginning of the end of the Arab trade monopoly on the west coast of India. Soon thereafter, the hindu Raja of Vijaynagar, himself under threat from the muslim Sultan of Bijapur, would seek to forge an alliance with the Portuguese. Meanwhile Vasco da Gama began his return journey to Lisbon having accomplished his primary objective - to set up a trading post in Calicut. He had also avenged the cold-blooded massacre of his colleagues !

Vasco da Gama returned to Lisbon with a shipload of spices - this time to even greater riches, honours and accolades. But very little is known or heard of him for over two decades thereafter. This indicates that Vasco da Gama was not a very public person nor was he someone who aspired for public office. In 1524 his services were called upon by the King once again. This time to bring some semblance of order among the Portuguese administrators in India. News had travelled back to Lisbon that there was rampant corruption among the Portuguese officials in India. The Governor Eduardo de Menezes had lost all control of the administration. Vasco da Gama was appointed the second Portuguese Viceroy of India.

On April 9, 1524 Vasco da Gama sailed from Lisbon with a flotilla of 14 ships and 3000 men. His cousin Estevao da Gama followed a few days later with 15 ship. Estevao da Gama was particularly ruthless in his dealings with Arab ships and their crew which he encountered. He also exhibited an inordinate display of firepower at Calicut. Vasco da Gama meanwhile had anchored in Chaul having lost a couple of ships en route to his headquarters - Goa. It is in Goa that he took over charge of the Portuguese administration from Governor Menezes. At the end of September 1524 Vasco da Gama made a triumphant entry into Cochin, a kingdom friendly to the Portuguese. The reception is described as jubilant. However, Vasco da Gama was unable to truly complete the task at hand - bringing the delinquent Portuguese officials into line. With the cumulative effects of the arduous journeys and what is perhaps consistent with anthrax bacillary infection, Vasco da Gama died in Cochin on December 25, 1524.

Vasco da Gama served as Viceroy of India for only three months before his untimely death. He was 55 years old. His body lay buried in Cochin until 1539 when his remains were moved to be reburied in Vidigueira, Portugal. In 1880 the remains of Vasco da Gama were transferred once again, this time along with those of the poet Luis de Camões to the Monastery of Jeronimus.