Before we talk about who opened India should understand why the Europeans in general began to ask questions of finding a new way to this distant country.The main reason was that the Mongols conquered one by one almost all the important points on the Great Silk Road.Trade relations for the conquerors were not a priority, and therefore the end of the 13th century.Trade with China and India to Europe is much more complex.She was in charge of Arab merchants who profited from it as they could.
first attempts to find another way to India
Immediately after Saint-Jean d'Acre - the last bastion in the east of Europe - fell in Genoa began to equip an expedition to find a sea route to India.On the two galleries filled with food supplies, fresh water and other necessities, the brothers went to Vivaldi.The plan at first they were supposed to arrive in Ceuta (Morocco), and from there head to the ocean in order to find the Indian country and to get there desired value goods.There is no credible evidence to suggest whether the Mariners managed to reach the shores of India.However, in the early 14th century.on the cards begin to appear fairly accurate outline of Africa, which means that they are able to even get around to the south of the continent is hot.
famous expedition of Vasco da Gama
Some researchers still call brothers Vivaldi those who opened India.However, official data differ with this statement, and Vasco da Gama is considered the sole discoverer of the sea route to the East.
Within a century after the expedition Vivaldi Spain and Portugal sent the ships, one after another, but none of the travelers had not been successful.In the summer of 1497 on the orders only ascended to the Portuguese throne Manuel I was prepared to find another flotilla en route to India.Command four ships monarch instructed the Commander Vasco da Gama - a competent and intelligent man, versed in palace intrigues, which, according to Manuel I, could not be better able to cope with the task entrusted to him.And he was not wrong, because it is Vasco da Gama is now known to us as the one who opened India.
The preparations for the expedition from the beginning led to the departure of Bartolomeu Dias - the man who in 1488, although not discovered the sea route to India, but has reached the extreme point of Africa, which received its light hand the name Cape of Storms (later renamed CapeGood Hope).
experience gained Dias turned out to be very useful in this case.In particular, he helped design the new ships to travel, because, in his view, conventional caravel for such serious swimming categorically did not fit.
Final preparations have been completed, and July 8, 1497 the expedition of Vasco da Gama moved to a distant way.On board the four ships were collected 170 of the best sailors in Portugal.Many beginning of the journey was more familiar with swimming Dias.All vessels were equipped with the best at the time navigational instruments at the disposal of the team were the most accurate maps.In the initial stages Dias accompanied the flotilla and already near the Cape Verde Islands came down to the shore.
expedition of Vasco da Gama was forced to make a huge detour in order to get around the strip of calms in the Gulf of Guinea.Christmas 1497 expedition had met while sailing along the eastern coast of Africa.At the time of 4 ships there are only three: one sank near the Cape of Good Hope.Traffic is flowing northward greatly hindered southwest over, so swimming was tough.
However, March 2, 1498 the expedition successfully reached Mozambique.Here, those who opened India subsequently took a rather unpleasant incident with the local ruler.Despite the fact that the funds to equip the expedition, the Portuguese do not regret it, with gifts, they miscalculated.As a result, rather than to establish relations with the Mozambican Sultan, the Europeans even more aggravated and they were forced to leave as soon as possible those places.
next expedition shelter da Gama found in Mombassa, but people there waiting too warm welcome.And only in the third port, called Malindi, the team was able to relax, gain strength.The local governor reacted to the Portuguese as well as possible and even svёl da Gama Ahmed ibn Majid - his best navigation.Ibn Majid expedition proceeded to the final destination.
solemn event - the opening of the India - occurred May 20, 1498.That's when the fleet arrived in the port of Calicut.However, the Portuguese relations with the local prince and Muslim merchants also evolved not the best way.Another conflict forced da Gama to leave the port, without even waiting for a favorable wind.
However, the original objective was achieved, and Vasco da Gama remained in the history of mankind to those who opened the way to India by sea.
