( 5 reviews )
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Posted: Apr 6 2008
In times wherein we debate kinks and spikes in a flat world, the relevance of the great explorers of the 15th century in contributing to this phase is a moot point. What could lend a boost to any of these debates is this great book on one of the explorers viz. Vasco Da Gama by Sanjay Subrahmanyam. The book is infinitely detailed, sometimes tiresomely so but to a patient reader the facts form a coherent pattern in a tapestry checkered by messianic zeal and greed. Vasco Da Gama came from a reasonably humble beginning, born to a family of noblemen of an average standing. Though current history and the significance of events have allowed poets and artists to use broad strokes to paint him as an intrepid adventurer, this can only be a partial truth. Vasco Da Gama was a creation of the times albeit a smart and brave one. 15th century Portugal displays an enormous amount of politicking. The power of the royalty is undermined or augmented based on the support of military orders which are leftovers of the crusades, notably one of them viz. The Order of Christ largely being a makeover of the Templars who may have found refuge in Portugal. The king Dom Joao 2 , under severe competitive pressure from neighboring Spain which could boast of greater maritime success (both financially and nominally), discovers an excellent device for his ambitions in Vasco Da Gama who is entrusted with the voyage to India. The purpose being twofold - undermine the power of the Moors who till now have dominated the spice trade, and sound the death knell on Islam by allying with the mythical Prestor John who controls an large army of willing Christians. May 1498 sees Vasco Da Gama sighting land in Kerala, and the first Portuguese land in India. The spice trade is portrayed to be fairly open controlled largely by the Samudri Zamorin of Calicut. What follows is a tale of greed and power-play with the Portuguese based on their sheer might on the seas being able to control a large share of the spice trade. Religious zeal takes a back-seat to sheer greed and though the spice trade is largely won its at a fairly large cost to the locals. Vasco goes back to a sinecure under a new king Dom Manuel and over a period of time with political upheaval taking a toll on his image and standing, he is "convinced" to become the viceroy of India where he finally is put to rest. So the questions linger, was the discovery of the sea route to India an enabler for a more global society? From a western perspective, maybe yes, but for the largely peaceful trade routes that existed in the Indian ocean the dark ages had just begun
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( 3 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 8 2006
Vasco da Gama is one of the great heros of the Portuguese Age of Exploration. This book is a well written and very thorough look at his career and exploits, particularily the impact of political maneuvering within the Portuguese nobility at the time. The author has translated and cited many historic Portuguese writings. As with many modern histories, the myth and legend are taken down a notch, and da Gama the man - warts and all - is revealed. Nonetheless da Gama is all the more interesting as a flawed human character. My only disappointment with the book is that the author seemed to have missed an opportunity to delve more deeply into the storytelling aspect of da Gama's voyages, especially his first journey to India. The account of the voyages at times seem rather dry, lacking a narrative voice to pull the reader in and recreate what it must have been like as the Portuguese encountered various civilizations for the first time. But it was only because the author does such a thorough job of detailing the events of the voyages that I was left wanting to hear a bit more ... All in all a very well researched and documented study of da Gama, which has served as a good starting point for learning more about this fascinating character.
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( 18 of 20 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 13 2000
Subrahmanyam's book on Vasco de Gama opens like a powerful opera with a nineteenth century ouverture by Mayerbeeer on one of the heroes of European exploration. One instantly remembers Said's use of Aida to illustrate his point about culture and imperialism, also at the heart of this book . It is a theoretically sophisticated book informed by Foucault and Said, who nevertheless are never in the foreground to cloud the real issues. There is no jargon to spoil the sophistication, yet the discourse about de Gama is slowly deconstructed as it unfolds as a biography, a portrait, a eulogy , an opera and a heroic journey. It is no longer a European view of de Gama, but a more global one, where Middle Eastern and Indian merchants long absent on the pages written in Europe play their role, at long last. Itlooks at the Portuguese arrival in India as a real historical event as opposed to leaving it a hymn to exploration and European imperialism. The book examines the construction of the Portuguese heroic myth of de Gama often represented as a Christ like figure, followed by 12 apostles, a Christian hero who has left holy relics. It might infuriate some readers, but it will inform many others about a major chapter of history which has remained, as the book title suggests a legend. A tour de force, and a must read for serious historians. The best book I have read in a long time, and a real pleasure to read.
