Consider the following statements regarding the arrival of Vasco da Gama in Calicut in 1498: 1. Vasco da Gama anchored his fleet at Kappad near Calicut, marking the opening of the direct maritime route between Europe and India. 2. The Zamorin of Calicut initially welcomed the Portuguese traders, but commercial tensions soon flared due to opposition from established Arab merchants. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Vasco da Gama arrived at Kappad near Calicut in May 1498, initiating European maritime imperialism in Asia. The Zamorin initially received the Portuguese courteously, but hostility quickly developed because Arab traders dominated the spice trade and opposed European monopolistic ambitions. Both statements accurately chronicle this watershed historical event. This encounter fundamentally altered the political and economic landscape of the Indian Ocean.