Firstly, we will see the Situations of Europe in which we will study how European companies reached Asia and India.
Situations of Europe
Roman Empire was expanded into three continents
In 395 AD Roman Empire got divided into Eastern Roman Empire (Constantinople as Capital) and Western Roman Empire (Rome as Capital).
7th century saw the rise of Islam religion with the help of political power. It attacked Eastern Roman. In 1453 AD, they defeated Constantinople by Sulatn Mahmed of Turkey.
After this the regions of Eastern Roman Empires came under the control of Ottoman Empire which was also known as Byzantine Empire.
Ottomans also controlled the major trade routes between Europe and Asia.
Establishment of Ottoman Empire was not just political, but it was also culturally so, the people of Eastern Roman Empire started moving towards Western Roman Empire specifically Italy.
Cardinal Bessarian kept around 800 manuscripts with him and moved towards Italy.
The Literature of Eastern Roman Empire led the emergence of Ideological Revolution in Italy because Italy was the place of Scholars and Liberal Society.
Ideological Revolution is known as Renaissance which means re-awakening.
Renaissance -------- Individual became Center ---------- Logical Thinking ---------- Proof (Anything which can be proved is acceptable otherwise not acceptable) ----------- Innovations/Research ----------- Machinery use: - (a) Agriculture ------ Surplus production -------- search of Markets (b) Manufacturing Units ------------ high production: - (i) need raw materials (ii) markets. This finally lead in search of new places and new routes.

Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, set out in 1497 to find a sea route to India, following the path pioneered by Bartolomeu Dias around the Cape of Good Hope.While da Gama navigated the Atlantic and rounded Africa, he relied on local expertise to traverse the Indian Ocean. At Malindi, on the East African coast, he took aboard Kanji Malam, a Kutchi sailor renowned for his knowledge of the sea route to India.Kanji Malam’s guidance was crucial in navigating the monsoon winds and ocean currents, enabling da Gama to reach Calicut (Kozhikode) on the southwestern coast of India on May 20, 1498.While some historical accounts suggest other figures, such as the Arab navigator Abdul Majid, may have assisted, scholars largely agree that Kanji Malam was the navigator who directly guided da Gama across the Indian Ocean.This collaboration highlights the importance of local maritime knowledge in the success of European exploration. Without Kanji Malam’s expertise, da Gama’s voyage might have faced greater difficulties, as the journey involved complex navigation through unfamiliar waters, unpredictable winds, and the threat of scurvy and other hardships.In summary, Kanji Malam played a pivotal role in helping Vasco da Gama reach India, demonstrating the critical contribution of indigenous navigators to the Age of Exploration.