On 22 November 1497, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama accomplished a monumental feat by successfully rounding the Cape of Good Hope, a perilous milestone in his ambitious voyage to India.
This journey, under the auspices of King Manuel I of Portugal, marked a pivotal chapter in the Age of Discovery, as da Gama sought to establish a direct sea route to the lucrative markets of the Indian subcontinent.
Battling treacherous seas and navigating uncharted territories, his expedition not only expanded the horizons of maritime exploration but also laid the foundations for Portugal’s dominance in the Indian Ocean trade, heralding a transformative era in global commerce and cultural exchanges.