Vasco da Gama
~1460–1524 · Portuguese (Sines) · Age of Discovery
Known for: First European to reach India by sea, opening a direct trade route that transformed global commerce
Da Gama sailed from Lisbon around the Cape of Good Hope to Calicut, India—a voyage of over 24,000 miles taking 10 months. The achievement opened a direct sea route between Europe and Asia, bypassing the Ottoman-controlled overland routes and transforming global trade.
He was tough, pragmatic, and brutally violent. On his second voyage, he bombarded Calicut and burned a ship full of Muslim pilgrims returning from Mecca, including women and children. He was effective at establishing Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean but employed terror as a primary tool. He served briefly as Viceroy of India before dying in Cochin.
Browse all 1,000 figures by category
Enable JavaScript to view the full "if they lived today" Q&A and personality profile.