User:Atcovi/Vasco da Gama

D. Vasco da Gama (1460/1469 - December 23, 1524) is a famous Portuguese explorer, a successful explorer in the Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail from Europe to India.

Early Life
Vasco da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal on 1460 or 1469, Gama’s exact birthdate is unknown to historians. Gama was born in a noble family, he was the third son of Estêvão da Gama, who was the commander of the fortress in Sines, and Isabel Sodré, who came from an English Family.

Vasco de Gama was the third child out of the five children in his family. Historians believed that these people are his brothers (in order): Paula da Gama, João Sodré, Vasco da Gama, Pedro da Gama and Aires da Gama. Vasco da Gama also has a well-known sister, Teresa da Gama. During his childhood, Vasco da Gama was very well educated as a nobleman, he also served in the court of King Joao II. He was brought up in a maritime environment, due to this opportunity, Gama was trained in fishing, sailing and swimming.

He joined the Navy when he was 15, he became a sailor. While he was a sailor, he studied navigation and astronomy.

First Voyage
On July 8, 1497, Gama led four ships with 170 men from Lisbon, Portugal. The four ships that left Lisbon were:
 * The São Gabriel, commanded by Vasco de Gama. A carrack of 178 tons, length 27 m, width 8.5 m, draft 2.3 m, sails of 372 m².
 * The São Rafael, whose commander was Vasco da Gama's brother, Paulo da Gama.
 * The caravel Berrio, slightly smaller others, commanded by Nicolau Coelho.
 * A storage ship (name unknown), commanded by Gonçalo Nunes, was later lost near the Bay of São Brás, along Africa.

Rewards

 * January 1502, De Gama received the title of admiral.