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The Route and Government of India
Portugal's network of Indian trading posts and fortresses were governed by viceroys appointed by the king.
Years: 1497 — 1499
Vasco da Gama successfully completed his “Carreira da India”, or round-trip voyage connecting Lisbon to India. The route followed by the carracks rounded the Cape of Good Hope and took approximately six months to complete the crossing.
Every year, the fleets sailed between March and April, transporting hundreds of people, European goods, and silver – with which spices, namely pepper, cinnamon and cloves were bought, apart from many other precious commodities.
To govern the “State of India”, which constituted a wide network of trading posts and fortresses from Sofala to China, the Portuguese kings appointed governors who were granted the title of Viceroy. Among them is the distinguished figure of Afonso de Albuquerque, who strove to ensure Portuguese sovereignty over the cities of Goa, Malacca, and Hormuz. These were strategic locations for control of the main mercantile routes of the Indian Ocean.
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