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born in Sines, a seaport on southwest coast of Portugal where a statue would be later built in honour of him for commanding first lfeet to reach India from Europe Childhood:
- learned astronomy and navigation
- attended school in town of Evora
- father chosen to lead expedition to India but died before plans were completed -
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became a naval officer, commanded ships along coast of Portugal, was ordered by King John II to capture French ships in Portugal in retaliation for taking Portuguese property in France Portugal, farthest west of all European countries, far from supply routes, started to explore alternative routes to Asia from Atlantic Sea and Africa
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set sail from Lisbon, Portugal with 170 crew members on orders of King Manuel to open up trading options and bring back spices
- took more than 3 months for first sight of land because went far into Atlantic to escape destructive currents
- when fresh water was running low, food was cooked in salt water
~ land routes were long, dangerous, and controlled by Muslims
~ expensive to pay Arabs for other sea routes, no control over own trade -
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reached Calicut, India where he unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a trade agreement
- first all-water trade route between Europe and Asia that was controlled by Europeans was completed
- using this route, Portuguese sailors would later travel to the Spice Islands from India, expanding trade further East
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arrived in Lisbon where King Manuel gave him title as Admiral of the Sea of India, only 2 ships and 54 people (half the number he started with) survived expedtion proved that it was possible to sail around Africa to India
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- second voyage to India from Lisbon with 20 warships, the largest, most heavily armed fleet yet sent to Asia
- goal was to establish and expand trade, to destroy Arab trade empire, seize control of spice trade from Arabs, and to punish hostile locals from last voyage
- was successful, helped make Portugal one of the most important trading and naval countries in Indian Ocean
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returned from second voyage to India, retired from seafaring career
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-title awarded by King Manuel I, allowing him to collect taxes and rents from the villages of Vidigueira and Vila de Frades -this title could be passed on to his heirs
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King John III named him Viceroy of India and ordered him to return to India to strengthen trading position
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arrived on Malabar Coast and reformed Portuguese trade colony in India
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Died of malaria while serving as royal governor in Cochin, India. By then, Portugal had built up their own trade empire and become one of the richest nations in Europe, shifting power from Italy.
