Which famous explorer is credited with discovering the sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope? A) Christopher Columbus B) Vasco da Gama C) Ferdinand Magellan D) James Cook
VerifiedAnswer: B) Vasco da Gama
Explanation:
Vasco da Gama is the Portuguese explorer who successfully discovered the sea route to India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. His groundbreaking voyage took place between 1497 and 1499, opening up a new chapter in world trade and exploration.
Da Gama's expedition was commissioned by King Manuel I of Portugal, who wanted to find a direct sea route to the lucrative spice markets of India. Before this discovery, European traders had to rely on overland routes through the Middle East, which were expensive and controlled by Arab merchants. The Cape of Good Hope had been previously rounded by Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, but da Gama was the first to complete the entire journey to India and back.
Let's look at why the other options are incorrect:
• Christopher Columbus is famous for reaching the Americas in 1492, but he was actually trying to find a westward route to India and never succeeded in reaching the actual India
• Ferdinand Magellan is known for initiating the first voyage to circumnavigate the globe, but his route went westward through the Pacific Ocean, not around Africa
• James Cook was an 18th-century British explorer famous for his voyages in the Pacific Ocean, including reaching Australia and New Zealand, but he lived much later than the Age of Discovery
Da Gama's successful voyage had enormous historical significance. It established Portuguese dominance in the Indian Ocean trade for over a century and marked the beginning of European colonialism in Asia. His discovery of this sea route ultimately changed global trade patterns and connected Europe directly with the riches of the East, making it one of the most important maritime achievements in human history.
