Indian commodities such as spices, cotton, semi–precious stones, and perfumes were popular in European countries. However, the only way to travel from Europe to India was over land which was a long and expensive trip. With the fall of Constantinople in 1453, there was an urgent need to find alternate trade routes. Global exploration started with the Portuguese discovery of the east. The Portuguese began systematically exploring the Atlantic coast of Africa from 1418, under the sponsorship of Prince Henry. Expedition after expedition was sent forth throughout the 15th century to explore the coast of Africa. In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias reached the Indian Ocean. With this achievement, a new wave of hope spread among the explorers.įollowing the route of Bartolomeu Dias, a Portuguese captain, Vasco da Gama, sailed in. He went further south and saw a piece of land after the voyage of 3 months. Naming it “Cape of Good Hope” Portuguese fleet under the navigation of Vasco da Gama began their journey further. Sticking to the coastal line, they kept going northwards until they reached Malindi. Further, under the guidance of pilot who was aware of the monsoon wind they turned away from the coast and sailed into the vast and unknown sea to explore their dreamland. The fleet arrived in Kappadu near Calicut, India, on 20 May 10 Months after they set out for the journey. Hearing the news of the foreign fleet’s arrival, the King of Calicut received them with a great hospitality. However, the interview with the king did not produce a concrete conclusion, as the king did not approve of the gifts brought by the foreigners. The trivial gift of four cloaks of scarlet cloth, six hats, four branches of corals, twelve almasare’s, a box with seven brass vessels, a chest of sugar, two barrels of oil and a cask of honey failed to convince the king that they were royal ambassadors and not a random gang pirates.ĭisappointed, the Portuguese fleet left the coast of India. Unaware of the monsoon winds, they faced a terrible journey back to their homeland. Vasco da Gama reached in July 1499 exactly two years after he left his country with a great hope. The Portuguese gave him a hero’s welcome and a reward from the king himself.

Though, Vasco da Gama’s expedition was successful beyond all expectation, he failed to come to terms with the king of Calicut. With a firm determination, Vasco da Gama once again sailed to India to impose Portuguese monopoly over spice trade. With the mission of making a treaty with the king and to set up a factory in India, the Portuguese sailed from Portugal in 1502 with 20 armed ships.

World conqueror 4 apk 1.0.2