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Vasco da Gama
After traveling thousands of miles through wild storms and uncharted seas, with few supplies remaining, Vasco da Gama reached his destination, the coast of India. In 1498, he became the first European explorer to connect Europe and Asia by sea. Throughout his lifetime, da Gama would travel to India three times, developing trade posts, strengthening military power, and expanding the Portuguese Empire. Although he was known for his ruthless behavior, his important achievements made him a national hero and one of the great explorers in world history.
* Reviews *
Many students may learn just one fact about Vasco da Gama: he was the first European to get to India from Europe entirely by sea. This book gives the details of that first treacherous voyage and explains why da Gama has become a Portuguese national hero. Because Portugal had developed a substantial navy, King Dom Manuel was eager to use this advantage to the countrys benefit. Da Gama was tasked, then, not only with the sailing duties, but with building relationships with the people along the route and in Calicut. He established diplomatic ties, despite religious obstacles and competition, and learned valuable information to take back to Portugal. On two return trips, he left his permanent mark on the connection between Portugal and India. This explorers life story is very well told; the danger and excitement is smoothly conveyed. The facts are explained clearly, without losing the pace of the tale. A timeline at the beginning and maps carefully placed throughout add to the clarity of the story without interrupting the text. A glossary, index, and suggestions for further reading expand opportunities for understanding and further learning., Children's Literature
RL
Grades
6-7 IL
Grades
6-12+ GRL
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