Otkriće sveta u stripu #5 : Vasko de Gama na putu začina / Albukerk utemeljivač carstva
The comic book "Vasco da Gama" from the series Discovery of the World in the comic book tells the story of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama and his historic journey in 1498, which established a direct sea route to India.
This episode, with drawings by Eduardo Coelho and José Bielsa, and a script by Jean Olivier, focuses on his expedition and the significance of the discoveries for the European spice trade.
The plot follows Vasco de Gama who, under the patronage of the Portuguese king Manuel I, sets out in 1497 with a fleet of four ships from Lisbon. The goal is to find a sea route to India, bypassing the African coast. Navigation was extremely dangerous: the ships, about 30 meters long, faced storms, high waves at the Cape of Good Hope (originally called "Cape of Storms") and other adversities, such as hunger, scurvy and hostile natives. Fear of the unknown was an additional challenge, and the crew included convicts who had been promised a pardon.
De Gama sails along the west coast of Africa, bypasses the Cape of Good Hope, and along the east coast reaches the Indian Ocean. In May 1498, Dolburgo arrived in Calcutta, establishing a trade route for spices. The second part of the comic deals with Albuquerque, which consolidates Portuguese influence in India.
The comic emphasizes adventure, bravery, but also the economic motives behind the expedition, providing insight into the historical context and cruelty of colonial conquests.
Angeboten wird ein Exemplar
