A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1497-1499

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

46440

Title

A Journal of the First Voyage of Vasco da Gama 1497-1499

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This historical journal chronicles Vasco da Gama's groundbreaking 1497-1499 voyage, the first European sea route to India. Edited by E. G. Ravenstein, it details the arduous journey around Africa, diplomatic encounters in Calicut, and the return voyage, offering a vital account of the Age of Discovery.

Summary up to 500 words

Published by the Hakluyt Society and translated by E. G. Ravenstein, this volume chronicles the epochal 1497–1499 voyage of Vasco da Gama, the expedition that severed Europe's reliance on Venetian spice monopolies by opening a direct ocean highway to India. The narrative begins in Lisbon, where the fleet prepares to challenge established trade routes, before navigating the treacherous southern Atlantic. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope and passing the Bay of St. Helena, the fleet proceeds along the African coast, establishing contacts at Moçambique and Mombaça. Upon reaching Calicut (Calecut), the journal details the complex diplomatic and commercial interactions with the Zamorin, the ruler of the region. The text vividly describes the arrival, the exchange of gifts, and the subsequent detention of the fleet due to local tensions. It offers rich descriptions of the Indian landscape, its diverse people, and its commerce, specifically highlighting valuable spices like cinnamon and cloves. The return journey covers the crossing of the Arabian Sea, a stop at Malindi, and the final leg back to Portugal. The work is enriched with appendices containing original letters from King Manuel, accounts by contemporary observers like Girolamo Sernigi, and detailed muster-rolls of the fleet. It also features early maps illustrating the voyage's progress and honors bestowed upon da Gama upon his return. Standing as a primary source, the text elucidates the profound geopolitical and economic shifts caused by the discovery of the sea route to the East, marking a pivotal moment in the Age of Great Discoveries where Portugal's resources were tested against continuous wars and the enforcement of a distant monopoly.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History
• Travel