THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE EAST TO THE WEST AND CHANGED GOA FOREVER VASCO DA GAMA Vasco da Gama is a Portuguese explorer widely credited with the discovery of an oceanic route linking Europe and India in 1498. He was the first European to reach India by sea, and his voyage to the East marked the beginning of an era of maritime imperialism by European powers in Asia. Da Gama's journey to India had a profound impact on the history of the region. It opened up trade routes between Europe and India, which allowed Portugal to dominate the lucrative spice trade in the region. At the same time, it enabled the Portuguese to spread Christianity throughout Asia and to expand their colonial empire in the region. The Portuguese, under Da Gama's leadership, also established their base in Goa, India. Goa was the first Portuguese colony in Asia, and it would remain under Portuguese control until 1961. During this period, the Portuguese introduced numerous innovations to the region, such as ...