VASCO DA GAMA arrived at the port of Calicut on the south-
west coast of India on May 27, 1498. Without doubt his
arrival marks a turning-point in the history of India and
Europe.

India had been known to Europe from the earliest days of
history. Indian soldiers had fought under the Persian banner on
Greek soil in 480 B.C. and, long before Alexander reached the
Indian frontiers, friendly relations had existed between Hellas and
India. Roman ships based on Egypt regularly visited Indian ports
and the Arikkamedu excavations have now established that a
flourishing trade had developed in the first century A.D. between
the Roman Empire and the States of South India. Greek and
Roman geographers had known the Indian coast and had de-
scribed even the Indonesian Archipelago. In the dark ages of
Europe, though the contact was neither so regular nor so inti-
mate, India continued to excite the imagination of the West, and
we have some evidence of the knowledge of Asian countries in
Europe. After the early Crusades Europe's interest in Asia in-
creased greatly and both Venice and Genoa possessed detailed
knowledge of Indian conditions and trade. Even in distant Ant-
werp, India was known and Indian products esteemed. In the
thirteenth century India was visited by many European travellers,
among whom Marco Polo, Friar Odoric and Monte Corvino de-
serve special mention. In fact, as Hegel noted later: ' India as a land
of Desire formed an essential element in general history. From the
most ancient times downwards, all nations have directed their
wishes and longings to gaining access to the treasures of this land

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