What nationality was the explorer Vasco da Gama?

Portuguese.

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most famous and celebrated figures from the Age of Discovery, which was a period marked by Portuguese and Spanish explorers traversing the globe to chart unknown waters and territories. Born in Sines, Portugal, around 1460 or 1469, da Gama rose to prominence through his pioneering navigational exploits that significantly contributed to Portugal’s status as a leading maritime and colonial power during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Vasco da Gama’s most notable achievement was his pioneering sea route to India, which he first accomplished on his historic voyage from 1497 to 1499. This journey was commissioned by Portuguese King Manuel I, who sought to find a maritime pathway to the East to gain access to the lucrative spice markets that were, until then, dominated by Middle Eastern and South Asian intermediaries. By reaching Calicut (present-day Kozhikode, India) on the Malabar Coast, da Gama successfully established the first all-sea route between Europe and Asia, which had a profound impact on global commerce and paved the way for an age of global imperialism.

The voyage itself was arduous and fraught with challenges, including navigating unknown waters, facing harsh weather conditions, and dealing with unfamiliar diseases. Da Gama’s route took him from Portugal southward around the Cape of Good Hope and then northeast across the Indian Ocean to the coast of India. This sea route dramatically reduced the time and risk associated with the previous overland trade routes through the Middle East.

Da Gama’s success not only brought great wealth to Portugal but also led to further expeditions to consolidate Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean. He himself would return to India twice more, in 1502 to enforce Portuguese interests against Arab traders and in 1524 as the Portuguese Viceroy of India, where he died in Cochin.

Through these voyages, Vasco da Gama solidified his legacy as one of the greatest naval explorers in history. His achievements helped establish a Portuguese empire in Asia that lasted for several centuries, significantly extending the reach of Portuguese influence and contributing to the spread of European colonization. His explorations exemplified the daring and strategic prowess that characterized the Portuguese Age of Discovery, profoundly influencing the political and economic landscape of the world during that era.