Da Gama established Portugal as a colonial power and changed the previous dependence Europe had on trade by overland routes.

He was advised by Jewish scholars and financed by Jewish businessmen. He also followed maps and instruments made by Jewish manufacturers. And Jewish physicians were on his ships.

While in India, Vasco da Gama captured a Polish Jew, forcibly baptised him and named him Gaspar da Gama.

To read more on this story, subscribe to our new e-edition. Go to E-edition.jewishtelegraph.com.

If you have a story or an issue you want us to cover, let us know - in complete confidence - by contacting newsdesk@jewishtelegraph.com, 0161-741 2631 or via Facebook / Twitter