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"Introduction: Who discovered the sea route to India?
Sea routes in India today are significant contributors to the increasing foreign trade. The sea routes facilitate international trade, which is essential for a country’s economy. But do you know who discovered the sea route to India?
Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route in 1498. who found India through the sea route. He came to India during the Age of Exploration. He was in search of the rare Indian spices. These spices were infamous in European countries. They began to look for new trade routes to India to gain a spice trade monopoly. It led to the development of spice trade in European countries.
Vasco da Gama: Who found India
Vasco da Gama’s name has been written in bold letters in Indian history textbooks. He made history by discovering the sea route to India from Europe.
Vasco da Gama, born in the 1460s, was a Portuguese explorer. His father, Esteva, was a nobleman who joined the Order of Santiago under the rule of King John II of Portugal. Vasco da Gama followed his father in 1480 to join the Order of Santiago.
The Portuguese government was trying to find a sea route to avoid the restrictions of Muslim leaders. It was a cost-saving measure to avoid the middleman. Since Indian spices were world-famous, they wanted a monopoly on the spice trade. They saw the potential wealth and power in finding a direct sea route to India. The discovery of the sea route to India was an excellent contribution to making Portugal a powerful country.
The Portuguese monarchy’s support for maritime endeavours
The Portuguese monarchy had a vital role in the sea expedition to India. Earlier, King John’s son, Prince Henry, supported numerous sea expeditions. He financed the Western African maritime expeditions. His successful endeavours motivated King Manuel I to support Vasco da Gama.
King Manuel financed the sea expedition to India. He also provided ships, supplies, and a crew. The monarchs supported maritime expeditions because they benefited their kingdoms."