Vasco da Gama Arrives at Calicut

Timeline

1. 1498Malindi · KenyaThe fleet sailed north along the East African coast, encountered resistance at Mozambique and elsewhere, then received assistance from the local ruler at Malindi and hired an Indian pilot familiar with the monsoon routes to prepare for the Arabian Sea crossing.
2. 1498Calicut · KeralaDa Gama's fleet used the southwest monsoon to cross the Arabian Sea, anchored in the harbor of Calicut, completed the first direct sea voyage from Europe to India, and presented letters to the Zamorin requesting permission to trade.
3. 1498Calicut · KeralaThe cheap goods brought by the Portuguese failed to meet local merchants' expectations, intensifying conflict with Arab traders; before departing, da Gama detained hostages and bombarded the harbor, laying the groundwork for subsequent Portuguese armed intervention in Indian Ocean trade.