Epic Voyages Turned the Tide
in a Centuries-Old Clash of Civilizations
by Nigel Cliff
ThriftBooks®
Posted on 12/24/2024 9:30:09 AM PST by Borges
At Fort Kochi’s St. Francis Church, history appears to have been buried, forgotten, and dead. “Remembering Vasco da Gama, Portuguese navigator; he arrived in Cochin…where he died and was first buried” is written on a plain blue board at the chapel.
The man who found the sea route to India in 1498, revolutionising international trade and cross-cultural contact, passed away on December 24, 1524. In the actual location of his death, amnesia reigns as programmes for the 500th anniversary are underway at Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, where his ashes were repatriated from Kochi in 1539. Not even a candle is burned as a votive offering, nor are there any memorial celebrations.
An attritional process of historical revisionism may be the cause of this. Post-colonial studies are increasingly portraying Vasco da Gama as a glorified pirate, a pillager who brutally treated the natives of the Malabar coast, and an open instrument of imperialism and religious persecution. Previously, da Gama was praised as the man who paved the way for the Estado da India (the Portuguese maritime empire) and sparked the East-West entente (the fantastic exchange of goods and ideas). According to Indo-Portuguese historian Father Pius Malekandathil, da Gama was getting older and worse when he made his final visit to Kerala. Kochi remained the capital of Portuguese establishments at the time of his passing. Only subsequently was it relocated to Goa. Father Pius went on to say that the existence of communities that have suffered greatly due to the Portuguese may have prevented a remembrance in Kochi. There was a lot of resistance in 1998 when an attempt was made to commemorate the 500th anniversary of da Gama’s landing in India. Whether dominance or subordination was to be honoured was the topic at hand. Sometimes, people might not be able to perceive the complex truth. When Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas was celebrated, a similar problem emerged. Many people present questioned whether exploitation was being glorified.
In addition to opening the door for colonisation, da Gama’s journey sparked the flow of culture, ideas, goods, and plants.
Scholars claim that socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic connections were hallmarks of early modernity. Father Pius claims that all started with da Gama’s historic journey. Due to Vasco Da Gama’s waterway opening, Papaya, pineapple, and other South American plants were eventually brought to Kerala. Without that exploratory mission, the agricultural landscape of India might have been different.
Most people living around the church in Fort Kochi, particularly the younger generation, are unaware of da Gama’s identity or importance. Vasco House, which is now a homestay, is thought to have been where he resided throughout his trips to Kochi till his death in 1524. The homestay’s manager, Santhosh Tom, claims that the building was given to his family during his grandfather’s lifetime. He never overheard anyone discussing memorials. According to Tom, all he knew was that da Gama resided, passed away, and was buried in the nearby church.
The Church of South India (CSI) currently oversees St. Francis Church. A memorial from the side of the church also proved improbable because, in contrast to the Latin Church here, CSI has no Portuguese influence. Church da Gama is only significant because the grave is in their church, according to Rev Praise Thaiparambil, Clergy Secretary of the Cochin Diocese of CSI.
During the Portuguese era, it was a Catholic church, and burials took place there. The Dutch then took over the church and converted it to a Dutch Reformed Church. During the English era, it changed its name to an Anglican church. Once the English churches departed, they were turned over to CSI, which, according to Thaiparambil, is how they found this church. He also stated that CSI did not alter the church’s name.
According to Fr. Pius, history should not be forgotten, and Vasco da Gama’s introduction to world culture should be appreciated for its accessibility, openness, and connectivity.
BS…..the Portuguese Inquisition was a brutal act on the native population by the church and yes, DaGama was a colonialist.
The modern pejorative concept of “Colonialist” does not project back to this era.
Epic Voyages Turned the Tide
in a Centuries-Old Clash of Civilizations
by Nigel Cliff
ThriftBooks®
Military conquest and use of superior firepower to subjugate a civilization and force conversion by the sword or “blasphemy” laws” is wrong irrespective of the age it was committed. We are seeing the same behavior today.
You’re projecting post Enlightenment values where they don’t belong. The Greeks and Romans also had “blasphemy” laws regarding their own religions.
Was there a civilization to subjugate? Certainly nowhwere near the level of Western European civilization. You sound like a PC fascist, not a lover of freedom. What’s next, civilization shouldn’t have subjugated the savages of the Americas?
The Calicut kingdom was actually pretty advanced. They were unimpressed by the trinkets taht Di Gama tried to entice them with.
He was a competent navigator that opened up trade routes that benefited all parties involved. Why make things harder than it is with all this revisionist history based on conjecture?
Nah, Magellan is my hero. And DeSoto. He found the Mississippi river!
Like they wouldn’t have found that anyway.
Exactly. Only a bad historian judges people of the past based on a modern understanding of things of which they did not know of, and judging them without possibly knowing the exact situation they were at the time.
Very good point. History ought to be judged by its own standards and its own context, and in that respect, VdG’s voyage of discovery was just that - a great historical maritime accomplishment opening up a channel between the East and the West, that had been previously blocked by Islam.
Scientifically, yes. But culturally and artistically, no - the very civilized Europeans of the Age of Discovery would tell you.
“….PC fascist…”
‘When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.’
“…the savages….” I’m sure we could’ve found a better way to coexist withe the indigenous population, but go ahead and spew your arrogance and hatred.
Let’s not give him any ideas now.
Paulo da Gama (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpawlu ðɐ ˈɣɐmɐ]; c. 1465 – June or July 1499) was a Portuguese explorer, son of Estêvão da Gama and Isabel Sodré, and the older brother of Vasco da Gama.He was a member of the first voyage from Europe to India, led by his brother, commanding the ship São Rafael, which would be later scuttled in the return trip. Paulo da Gama joined the São Gabriel. His brother brought him to the Terceira Island of the Azores and stayed with him until his death, before he returned to Portugal in September 1499.[1] Paulo da Gama is buried in the monastery of São Francisco in the city of Angra do Heroísmo.
The Portuguese, Spain and other Catholic states were intent on protecting their Catholic religion and Catholic culture. Righr or wrong, the Inquisition was one means for achieving that end.
Today, their are states that apply their own form of inquisition. E.g., Christian persecution in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, India etc.
There are other forms of discrimination that are subtle but nevertheless exist. We frequently refer to Israel as a "Jewish State." Yes, there are apologists that swear it is a democracy but the truth is - not so much. Israel's "Nation-State Law", officially known as the "Basic Law": , was enacted by the Knesset in July 2018. This law has sparked significant debate regarding its implications for equality within Israeli society. To understand how it undermines the principle of equality, we can analyze several key aspects:
1. Lack of Explicit Reference to Equality One of the most critical issues with the Nation-State Law is that it does not include any explicit mention of equality among citizens. Unlike many democratic nations that enshrine equal rights for all individuals in their constitutions or foundational laws, Israel’s Basic Laws do not formally recognize this principle.
2. Prioritization of Jewish Collective Rights Over Individual Rights. The law emphasizes the collective rights of the Jewish people to self-determination while sidelining individual rights and freedoms for non-Jewish citizens. By asserting that only Jews have the right to self-determination in Israel, it effectively places Jewish identity above individual civil rights.
3. Omission of Democratic Principles. The Nation-State Law fails to affirm Israel’s identity as both a Jewish and democratic state.
Full circle: Jewish State for Jews. Catholic state(s) for Catholics.
This was the beginning of European imperialism in India. The British were more successful than the Portuguese partly because they didn’t try to force their religion on the natives. It is understandable why the aren’t celebrating Vasco de Gama in India.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
