At the end of the 15th century the Portuguese started to explore the west coast of Africa. They set up trading posts and collected gold and silver. They were convinced that by sailing around the coast of Africa they would find a route to India.

In 1487 , the Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias sailed around the southern part of the continent and got as far as the east coast of Africa, but a storm made him turn back. On his return voyage, he saw a piece of land that stretched out into the sea. The Portuguese named it the Cape of Good Hope because they were hopeful of finding a passageway to India.

In 1497 Vasco Da Gama set out from Lisbon, sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and into the Indian Ocean. He reached the west coast of India in May 1498. He took some spices and gold back with him to prove that he had reached India.


Vasco da Gama's route to India

Vasco da Gama's route to India
Image (modified) :Martin23230, CC BY-SA 3.0,
via Wikimedia Commons 



Words

  • century = a hundred years
  • convince = to be sure that something is true
  • explore = to travel around a place and find out something about it
  • made him turn back = forced him to return
  • passageway = route
  • prove = to show that something is true
  • reach = to get as far as 
  • set out = start a journey
  • spices = powder or seeds that are used to make food taste better 
  • stretch = extend, reach out
  • trading post = a place where people could buy or sell goods 
  • voyage = a journey by boat or ship