World Explorers: Vasco da Gama

4 minutes 31 seconds

Now Playing As: Captioned (English) (change)

In order to bypass the treacherous Silk Roads, Vasco da Gama became the first person to find a sea route from Europe to Asia's lucrative trade centers. Born into a noble Portuguese family, he was a talented navigator and ship captain. Part of the "World Explorers" series.

Media Details

Runtime: 4 minutes 31 seconds

Topic: Biographies, Geography, History
Subtopic: Biography, Explorers, World Geography
Grade/Interest Level: 4 - 8
Standards:

Release Year: 2017
Producer/Distributor: PBS Learning Media
Series: World Explorers

Painting of a man with a dark mustache and forked beard wearing a gray turban and red and gold tunic sitting cross-legged. Images of animals on circles form a floating circle around him. Caption. Battuta would travel to even more distant lands.

Dark gray statues of vikings, Erik the Red and Leif Erikson, superimposed over a parchment-colored old-style map of Western Europe, Iceland, and Greenland. Caption. Erik the Red and his son, Leif Erikson.

Illustration of Marco Polo wearing red coat and furry cap holding a sword and bow and arrow. His image is superimposed over a color map with a compass rose and Gothic-style text, enclosed by elaborate patterned border. Caption. Marco Polo returned with amazing tales.

Computer rendering of explorer Zheng He wearing a black bonnet-style hat and red cloak. He is superimposed over a colorful map with Chinese writing. Caption. Assembled the largest fleet of ships ever seen.

Sepia-tone sketch of explorer John Cabot with Shakespeare-era hat and forked white beard. He is superimposed over an old-style map of the globe. Caption. Caboto decided to also try to find a westerly route to Asia.

Painting of a man wearing a dark velvet hat and a red velvet vest over a jacket with puffy sleeves. An old-style map of western Africa is under yellow text on the screen and reads, "Vasco da Gama." Caption. Was the first person to sail from Europe to India.

Painting of Christopher Columbus wearing a triangle hat and a large, dark cloak on the left. He is superimposed over a map of the globe drawn in maroon. Caption. Many Americans honor the feats of Christopher Columbus.

Painting of explorer Amerigo Vespucci holding a large golden drawing compass on a map on a wood table. An illustration of a ship with a dark sky and a compass rose are in the background. Caption. Securing a position as a mapmaker and astronomer.

Sepia-tone sketch of 3 conquistadors in armor carrying a wounded soldier over a dead soldier. 2 wooden gun stocks are on each side of the screen. Caption. Ponce de León was wounded in the battle.

Illustration of the islands of the Caribbean. Haiti and the Dominican Republic highlighted. Caption: Cortés lived on the island for six years.