Vasco Da Gama

After traveling thousands of miles through wild storms and uncharted seas, with few supplies remaining, Vasco da Gama reached his destination-the coast of India. In 1498, he became the first European explorer to connect Europe and Asia by sea. Throughout his lifetime, da Gama would travel to India three times, developing trade posts, strengthening military power, and expanding the Portuguese Empire. Although he was known for his ruthless behavior, his important achievements made him a national hero and one of the great explorers in world history.

Tony Napoli is a freelance author who has been writing books for educational publishers for more than twenty years. He lives in Northern California with his wife Sharon.