Vasco da Gama’s Terror at Sea

Did you know European explorers used terror tactics to control Asian trade routes? In 1502,

Portuguese commander Vasco da Gama spotted a ship called the Miri in the Indian Ocean.

For centuries, Arab and Indian merchants had peacefully traded across these waters,

but da Gama had different plans. The Miri carried 700 Muslim pilgrims returning from their

holy pilgrimage to Mecca. They offered him gold and jewels to let them pass

safely. Instead, he seized their ship and began torturing passengers,

burning them alive to learn about trade secrets. He used survivors as human shields

during attacks on coastal cities. When he reached Calicut, he bombarded the