Vaso Da Gama

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RISHABH Menon Core 2 Historical Biographical Essay: VasCo da Gama (1460-1524) * * "I am not afraid of the darkness. Real death is preferable to a life without living." Vasco da Gama grew up to be a person to sail without fear of life, family or nation but for enjoying the bliss of the world made by god. The optimistic approach in Vasco prepared him to explore the oceans and continents, and eventually become the first person to sail directly from Europe to India. To create one of the most instrumental moments in the history of navigation, Vasco took the risk of sailing nearly 24,000 miles with 170 crewmembers for 2 years. His choice of navigation was considered as a rebuke to Christopher Columbus, who believed that he had found the Indian route already. His courage and determination towards his country led him to make two more expeditions and ultimately his adoring outlook about India and its spices gained him the Portuguese Viceroy throne in 1524. But because of his huge partisanship, the king ordered him to protect Portuguese dominance which led him to carry out the gravest massacres in history by terrorizing Muslims and their ships in Africa, setting fire to their ships killing hundreds of women and children. But his nationalistic approach and remorseful feelings saved him from their curses. Therefore his courageous and brave heroism made him a motivational figure, naming craters on the moon, famous soccer clubs and churches after his name. * Da Gama was born in 1460 and was brought up by Estêvão da Gama as his third son in Sines, Portugal. Being the son of a commander of fortress, Vasco possessed a strong patriotic feeling towards Portugal and its military. As a student of navigation classes, he developed a tough and fearless explorer inside him, which in return helped him solidify his reputation as a sailor. It was during this time, when
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