Complex sentence: The Portuguese presence in Asia was responsible for what would be many first contacts between European countries and the East, starting in May 20,1498 with the trip led by Vasco da Gama to Calicut Scammell, G.V. (1997).
Split into simpler sentences: The Portuguese presence in Asia was responsible for what would be many of the first contact between Europeans countries and the East. The starting point was the first contact to May 20,1498 after the trip led by Vasco da Gama to Calicut Scammell, G.V. (1997).