may 20, 1498 - Vasco da Gama lands in India

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Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer, born in Sines in 1460. In 1497 he set off on a voyage, intending to reach India for the goods and spices. After stopping at the Cape of Good Hope, he went on to arrive in Calicut on May 20th 1498. This was a monumental voyage, as it connected Europe to Asia by sea, opening up new trade routes that would last until the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869.

Da Gama's voyage was the first of many of the Portuguese Empire, which established dominance over the Indian Ocean, which became an influential factor in the global trade network and the balance of power in Europe.

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