There had already been centuries of contact with the Middle East and east Africa. Cautious as he was, he first sent ashore a convict to test the mood of the 'natives' he himself did not step on to Indian soil until May 28.ĭa Gama entered European history books as the 'discoverer' of the sea route to India.
Five hundred years ago, on May 20, 1498, Vasco da Gama and his crew cast anchor a few miles north of Calicut in south India.
