page_title: Portuguese presence in Asia
section_title: Timeline of ships, voyages and contacts
hierarchical_section_title: Portuguese presence in Asia / Timeline of ships, voyages and contacts
caption_attribution_description: Anonymous map c.1550 of Eastern Africa, Asia and Western Oceania.
context_page_description: The Portuguese presence in Asia was responsible for what would be many of first contacts between European countries and the East, starting on May 20, 1498 with the trip led by Vasco da Gama to Calicut, India. Portugal's goal in the Indian Ocean was to ensure their monopoly in the spice trade, establishing several fortresses and commercial trading posts.
caption: Map of Asia and Oceania c.1550
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