1498

In the late 15th century, Portugal sought a direct sea route to the spice markets of Asia to bypass Arab and Venetian intermediaries controlling overland trade. King Manuel I commissioned Vasco da Gama, a relatively inexperienced nobleman, to lead an expedition with four ships departing Lisbon in July 1497. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope and navigating the Indian Ocean with local pilots, da Gama's fleet anchored near Calicut on the Malabar Coast on May 20, 1498. Initial receptions by the Zamorin were courteous but soured over trade negotiations and cultural misunderstandings, yielding limited spices before departure. The voyage proved the feasibility of an all-sea route from Europe to India, returning to Portugal in 1499 with only 55 survivors...

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1498

Exploration 15th Century Latin America & Caribbean

Columbus Discovers Trinidad on Third Voyage

By the late 15th century, European monarchs sponsored voyages seeking new trade routes and territories after the fall of Constantinople closed eastern paths. Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain on his third expedition, had already reached Caribbean islands but sought more lands. On July 31, 1498, his fleet sighted the island of Trinidad off the coast of South America. Crews landed, interacted with indigenous peoples, and noted the island's resources and strategic position. The discovery expanded Spanish claims in the region and provided a base for further exploration of the mainland.

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1498 Timeline

Vasco da Gama Reaches India by Sea

Columbus Discovers Trinidad on Third Voyage