Rafia+-+Vasco+Da+Gama

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Following into the **footsteps ** of a the great **Bartolomeu Diaz**, comes an even **greater explorer** that gave **Portuagal** a //whole new name //.. ====== ....................................
 * [[image:VASCODAGAMA.jpg width="233" height="355" align="left" caption="The Great Portugese Explorer: Vasco Da Gama"]]

Dom  Va  sc<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(9, 33, 190)">o <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color: rgb(5, 30, 143); background-color: rgb(255, 245, 250)">     <span style="color: rgb(11, 98, 229)"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255)">D <span style="color: rgb(111, 176, 246)">a  <span style="color: rgb(37, 156, 233)">G<span style="color: rgb(11, 39, 244)">a  m<span style="color: rgb(81, 151, 240)">a  ** <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="font-size: 110%; color: rgb(34, 182, 241); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif">Vasco Da Gama was born in either<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)"> <span style="color: rgb(247, 29, 29)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">**1460 or 1469**  in Sines, on the southwest coast of Portugal. He spent most of his life in many cities of **<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">Portugal **, however as an explorer he travelled to many distant lands such as Africa and India - where he spent a couple years. Vasco Da Gama continued to travel, until he contracted malaria after arriving in Goa, and died in the city of Cochin on <span style="color: rgb(88, 235, 253)"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0)">**December 24th, 1524**.

Vasco Da Gama was known as the **commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India**. The Portugese explorer made **three sea voyages** to India between **1497** and **1524**. His voyages **opened a sea route** from Western Europe to the East and thus brought his country **immense wealth**. Even after his death, Vasco da Gama remains as a **truly remarkable figure in history**. <span style="display: block; font-size: 110%; color: rgb(123, 186, 234); text-align: center"> <span style="color: rgb(150, 204, 248)"><span style="color: rgb(151, 190, 237)">**<span style="color: rgb(99, 187, 212); background-color: rgb(3, 3, 8)">Portugal became the envy of Western Europe ** **<span style="color: rgb(49, 157, 242)"> "The Indian Christians are very odd, they do not eat beef." ** one explorer wrote in his diary about the Indian Christians they were hoping to meet.

Below is a news podcast - **__A Taste of the Renaissance__** - about a news reporter that goes back in time to interview Vasco Da Gama on his journey home from his first voyage. <span style="color: rgb(91, 213, 245)">**Enjoy! :)<span style="font-size: 98%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> ** <span style="font-size: 98%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <span style="font-size: 98%; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">media type="file" key="rafia7VascoDaGama MP31.mp3"

<span style="font-size: 110%; color: rgb(25, 159, 235); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif">Works Cited:

"**Gama, Vasco da**." __Primary Britannica__. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 8 Apr. 2008 <[|http://school.ebonline.com/all/elementary/article?articleId=353162>.]

Sheppard, Richard. **"Vasco Da Gama Seeks Sea Route to India."** __SIRS Renaissance__. 8 Apr. 2008 <http://http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/ hst-source-display?id=SXX1263-0-4185&type=ART&artno=0000061684&key=&shfilter=U&au th_checked=Y>.
 * "Gama, Vasco da**." __Britannica Student Encyclopedia__. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 8 Apr. 2008 <[|http://school.ebonline.com/all/comptons/article-9274480>.</span]>

<span style="color: rgb(24, 149, 236); font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif">Image Sources: <span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(6, 5, 5); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">**"Gama, Vasco da** <span style="font-size: 90%; color: rgb(6, 5, 5); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">**."** Online Photograph. . 8 Apr. 2008 <[|http://school.ebonline.com/elementary/art-82337>.           </span]>