Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who is known for being the first European to sail to India around the Cape of Good Hope.
He was born in Sines, Portugal, in 1460, and died in Cochin, India, in 1524.
He was the son of Estêvão da Gama, a knight of the Order of Santiago.
Vasco da Gama began his career as a soldier, and in 1497, he was appointed commander of an expedition to India. The expedition was successful, and da Gama returned to Portugal in 1499 with a cargo of spices.
He was rewarded with the title of "Admiral of the Seas of Arabia and Persia" and was made governor of Portuguese India.
Da Gama returned to India several more times, and he also explored the east coast of Africa and the Persian Gulf. He died in Cochin in 1524, and his remains were later returned to Portugal.
Vasco da Gama is considered to be one of the most important figures in the Age of Exploration. His voyage to India opened up a new trade route between Europe and Asia, and it had a profound impact on the global economy.