Renaissance · South Asia · War

1502

Vasco da Gama Bombards Calicut

1502

Returning to India with a war fleet, Vasco da Gama demanded the expulsion of Muslim merchants from Calicut. When the Zamorin refused, he hanged captive fishermen from his yardarms and shelled the city for three days. Portuguese diplomacy on the Indian Ocean had found its voice. His brutality established Portuguese commercial policy in the Indian Ocean: trade on Portuguese terms or face naval bombardment.

More from 1502 Renaissance

In context

Also in 1502 (4 other events on record)

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First Chile Expedition · South America · War

Before and after in South Asia

Before: May 20, 1498: Vasco da Gama Reaches Calicut
After: 1504: Krishnadevaraya Crushes the Gajapatis

Before and after in War

Before: 1500: Mamluks Build Fleet at Suez
After: December 29, 1503: Spanish Rout the French at Garigliano

Era

Renaissance (1501–1650), one of 715 events from that era on Saeculum.

Sources

Wikipedia: Vasco da Gama