1498 CE · trade exploration
Arrival of Vasco da Gama
In 1498, Vasco da Gama reached Calicut after sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, opening a direct Portuguese sea route between western Europe and the Indian Ocean trading world. His arrival intensified European competition within an already extensive commercial system rather than immediately displacing Arab and Asian merchants.
This entry is being reviewed before inclusion in search results.
Sources and further reading
Sources still under editorial review. Not submitted for search indexing.