Who was the first European to reach India by sailing around the tip of Africa?

Vasco de Gama was the first European to successfully reach India by sailing around the tip of Africa, specifically navigating the route around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498. His voyage was significant as it established a direct maritime link between Europe and Asia, greatly facilitating trade and cultural exchanges. This route enabled Portugal to become a major player in the spice trade and ultimately led to the establishment of Portuguese colonial power in Asia.

In contrast, Christopher Columbus famously sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in search of a new route to Asia but landed in the Americas instead. Ferdinand Magellan is known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, which demonstrated the vastness of the Earth and proved that one could travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific; however, he did not reach India first. Hernan Cortes was involved in the conquest of the Aztec Empire, with no direct connection to the exploration of a sea route to India. Thus, Vasco de Gama is recognized for his landmark achievement in reaching India from Europe via the sea route around Africa.