Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sailing around the tip of Africa in which year?

Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sailing around the tip of Africa in which year?

• A. 1487
• B. 1497
• C. 1503
• D. 1510

Answer: (B)

The main idea is establishing a direct sea route from Europe to India by rounding Africa, which transformed global trade. Vasco da Gama sailed from Portugal in 1497, passed around the Cape of Good Hope by late 1497, and then continued to India, reaching Calicut in 1498. The year tied to the successful voyage around Africa that opened this route is 1497. That year marks the completion of the voyage around the southern tip of Africa and the opening of a direct path to India for European traders. The actual arrival in India happened a bit later, in 1498, but the pivotal voyage around Africa—and thus the first European link to India by sea—is associated with 1497.

The main idea is establishing a direct sea route from Europe to India by rounding Africa, which transformed global trade. Vasco da Gama sailed from Portugal in 1497, passed around the Cape of Good Hope by late 1497, and then continued to India, reaching Calicut in 1498. The year tied to the successful voyage around Africa that opened this route is 1497. That year marks the completion of the voyage around the southern tip of Africa and the opening of a direct path to India for European traders. The actual arrival in India happened a bit later, in 1498, but the pivotal voyage around Africa—and thus the first European link to India by sea—is associated with 1497.