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Vasco- an explorer or exploiter?
Vasco da Gama - this name resounds in the history as a diplomat, astute leader and a great explorer who found sea route to India and thus establishing trade with it. But, when we dig deep into history, this is not the case. His life is filled with the exertion violent streaks and cruel punishments to innocent people. In fact, he was responsible for sprouting the seeds of colonization by adopting hoax methods in pillaging spices from India. Is Vasco an explorer or an exploiter?
The 3 Voyages: Plunder and Massacre
1st Voyage:
With 4 small ships and a crew of 170 , in 1497, he started his voyage to discover sea route to India. The route upto cape of good hope was well known to Europeans. In February 1498, he reached the city of Mombasa (Eastern African coast) predominantly occupied by Muslims. He thought that they would not treat him properly if they come to know him as a Christian. On the contrary, they hosted him very well despite of his failure attempts to disguise as a Muslim. On leaving, he bombarded the city and looted all the Arab ships which were unarmed thereby showing his rift and unamiable nature.
He reached Malindi, a rival of Mombisa then and learnt about the richness of India there. On his way, he met a Gujarati (Gujarat is a state in India) sailor and reached the most lucrative coast of Malabar on May 20,1498 with his help. Vasco tried to impress the king of Calicut Zamaorin with his gifts and tried to get hold of valuable spices trade in return. Zamaorin refused it gently. Vasco declared that the Malabar is the land of Christians and he has all rights over it as it was his discovery. This initiated fire of hatred in the hearts of locals against Vasco (they impugned him on his declaration that it was his discovery saying that there were people existing before). They saw him nothing more like than a snake which tried to spill its venom on Indians. Despite of his quarrelsome declarations, he was sent to Portugal with riches which worth 60 times his expedition as he was the first man from Portugal to land in the Indian soil!
He returned Portugal in 1499 and was given the title "The Admiral of the Indian seas".
2nd Voyage:
He sailed to India back in 1502. This time he returned India with more hatred and abhorrence against Indians (especially Muslims). He brought more army and weapons to exploit spices somehow. By the time he reached India, king Zamaorin was dead and thus Vasco fished the young king by promising him a war elephant in return of spices trade. He slowly began to control king of Calicut and made him his puppet.
Vasco asked the king to expel every Muslim from the country. But, the king opposed it strongly. Vasco destroyed every Arab vessel and looted their ships. The most notorious of all is the Mecca pilgrimage killing. Many say that it is nothing more than a cold-blooded brutality. 400 Muslim pilgrims were savaged on their way to Mecca (of them, there were 50 women). Women gave their entire jewelry and pleaded for their lives. But, it did not move Vasco. He locked up everyone and then demolished the ship.
When king sent a priest to talk to him, he thought him for a spy and gashed his lips and ears. He replaced the ears by a dog's and sent back him to the king. His violent acts didn't stop there.He tried to destroy a another Arab spice vessel heading to Jeddah with spices. Muslims there strongly answered him by killing 54 Portuguese soldiers. Fearing further consequences, he razed Calicut and Pantalayani with bombs.
3rd Voyage:
This time he was successful in starting the trade of spices to Europe. Tons and tons of spices started to flow into European market. It was in 1524, he started his third voyage to India to replace the Viceroy Eduardo de Menezes. He continued to show his cold-blooded nature though. Soon after he became viceroy, death invited him by Malaria. There are a quite good number of people who say that he was murdered by an avenger, not by a mosquito!
The introduction of spices in European market acted as a catalyst for colonization in India and other Asian counties. The exploitation didn't stop with Vasco, indeed, it had begun. In the hearts of Indians, the title of exploiter suits him better than explorer.
Vasco- an Explorer or Exploiter?
The 3 Voyages: Plunder and Massacre
1st Voyage:
With 4 small ships and a crew of 170 , in 1497, he started his voyage to discover sea route to India. The route upto cape of good hope was well known to Europeans. In February 1498, he reached the city of Mombasa (Eastern African coast) predominantly occupied by Muslims. He thought that they would not treat him properly if they come to know him as a Christian. On the contrary, they hosted him very well despite of his failure attempts to disguise as a Muslim. On leaving, he bombarded the city and looted all the Arab ships which were unarmed thereby showing his rift and unamiable nature.
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| Sea route to India( by Vasco da Gama) |
He returned Portugal in 1499 and was given the title "The Admiral of the Indian seas".
2nd Voyage:
He sailed to India back in 1502. This time he returned India with more hatred and abhorrence against Indians (especially Muslims). He brought more army and weapons to exploit spices somehow. By the time he reached India, king Zamaorin was dead and thus Vasco fished the young king by promising him a war elephant in return of spices trade. He slowly began to control king of Calicut and made him his puppet.
Vasco asked the king to expel every Muslim from the country. But, the king opposed it strongly. Vasco destroyed every Arab vessel and looted their ships. The most notorious of all is the Mecca pilgrimage killing. Many say that it is nothing more than a cold-blooded brutality. 400 Muslim pilgrims were savaged on their way to Mecca (of them, there were 50 women). Women gave their entire jewelry and pleaded for their lives. But, it did not move Vasco. He locked up everyone and then demolished the ship.
When king sent a priest to talk to him, he thought him for a spy and gashed his lips and ears. He replaced the ears by a dog's and sent back him to the king. His violent acts didn't stop there.He tried to destroy a another Arab spice vessel heading to Jeddah with spices. Muslims there strongly answered him by killing 54 Portuguese soldiers. Fearing further consequences, he razed Calicut and Pantalayani with bombs.
3rd Voyage:
This time he was successful in starting the trade of spices to Europe. Tons and tons of spices started to flow into European market. It was in 1524, he started his third voyage to India to replace the Viceroy Eduardo de Menezes. He continued to show his cold-blooded nature though. Soon after he became viceroy, death invited him by Malaria. There are a quite good number of people who say that he was murdered by an avenger, not by a mosquito!
The introduction of spices in European market acted as a catalyst for colonization in India and other Asian counties. The exploitation didn't stop with Vasco, indeed, it had begun. In the hearts of Indians, the title of exploiter suits him better than explorer.
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