The Correct answer is Vasco da Gama. Explanation & Key Takeaways: • Vasco da Gama was the first Portuguese explorer to reach India in 1498, landing at Calicut on the Malabar Coast. • This expedition marked the beginning of the European Age of Exploration and established a direct sea route between Europe and India. • His journey was a key event in the history of global trade, as it opened the way for the spice trade and other goods between Europe and Asia. • The expedition of Vasco da Gama was sponsored by King Manuel I of Portugal. • Vasco da Gama set sail from Lisbon in 1497, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and reached the Indian Ocean. • Upon his arrival in Calicut, he was welcomed by the ruler, the Samudri Raja (Zamorin), which paved the way for future Portuguese dominance in Indian trade. • This voyage is considered one of the most significant achievements in the history of navigation and trade expansion. Related Concepts: • Columbus • Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer who set out to find a westward route to Asia but instead discovered the Americas in 1492. • He made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean under the sponsorship of the Spanish monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. • Columbus never reached India; his voyages led to the discovery of the New World. • Nino-da-Cunha • Nuno da Cunha was a Portuguese governor of India from 1529 to 1538. • He is known for transferring the Portuguese capital in India from Cochin to Goa. • He played a significant role in expanding Portuguese influence in India but was not the first to reach India. • Albuquerque • Afonso de Albuquerque was a prominent Portuguese general and statesman in India, serving as the second Governor of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515. • He is known for capturing Goa in 1510 and laying the foundations of Portuguese colonial rule in India. • Though a key figure in Portuguese expansion in India, he was not the first Portuguese to arrive in the country.