This exciting new book tells the story of the relentless and at times tyrannical explorer Vasco da Gama who helped Portugal earn its reputation as the leader of the Age of Exploration. By the late 1400s, Portugal's Prince Henry was looking for a way to expand Portuguese territory and gain access to the lucrative spice trade of the Far East. Vasco da Gama was at the forefront of this pursuit, leading three major expeditions to lands that Europeans had never explored. Topics include
• Vasco da Gama's early life
• Da Gama's journey around the southern tip of Africa through the Cape of Good Hope
• his encounters with the people of Mombasa and Mozambique
• his arrival in India and his attempts to dominate trade there
• Vasco da Gama's legacy, including the development of Portuguese spice plantations in India and New World colonies
• Portugal's role in the slave trade of Africa
Teacher's guide available.