118 исторических миниатюр и 108 авторских текстов на 13 иностранных языках. Сборник
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Even on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees was, perhaps, at that time easier. In the rear was Europe, and not the sea.
How could these people hope to preserve their independence on these a few relatively close, mountainous seaside areas of the earth - people whose descendants have become Portuguese?
Only by supernatural help.
They hoped and - received it. And - at the same time - their (some of them) gradually filled with a grim, cold-blooded, merciless to themselves and others, a stubborn, furious, cruel energy of survival.
Biography of Vasco da Gama suggests the connection in him and this mystical luck, and this survival energy - gloomy, accumulated over the years, decades, centuries.
Of course, there was also the energy of civilization, the energy of knowledge.
Perhaps the Portuguese king understood that he, at the head of the state, was part of this complex energy ...
Fearlessness, energy, and luck were characteristic of all seafarers and pioneers. However, hardly the Portuguese king could write an excuse letter, nobody except Vasco da Gama, in this style:
"Dear Admiral, we order you to remain in our Kingdom until the end of December this year, and we hope that during this time you will see the mistake you wanted to make, and wish to continue to serve us and not to engage in your planned dangerous path. But if you still want to leave, we will not delay neither you nor wife, nor your children, nor your personal property.
This in Lisbon. August 17, 1518.
King".
The speech in this letter - under threat of the Admiral's intention to move to Spain - was about part of the (unfulfilled) obligations of the King before Vasco da Gama and about the intention to execute them in full - albeit with delay.
Someone discerns in this letter the emerging contours of rights and liberties (fueros), which were then granted on the Iberian peninsula in special letters and protected from the tyranny of kings.
Difficult time. The Portuguese state is formed. It accumulates forces, opportunities. But there was a threat no only for those - a few - people who defended their independence on several relatively close, mountainous coastal areas.
In 1453 in Europe as blow the thunder swept the news: "Constantinople Fell!". The Pope then called on to read a special prayer. Read. Maybe read a little and Vasco da Gama. In 1480, repeating - but only partly - the fate of Constantinople, the fall of the city of Otranto in Southeast Italy. Vasco da Gama in 1480 was 20 years old.
Another "perspective of survival"?
Well, not! The Portuguese this prospect "did not smile"!
In 1487, the Portuguese king sent through Egypt and Palestine the unofficial representative who reached the Lands of Spices. This representative investigated the geographical conditions by personal inspections and inquiries of seasoned people, merchants. The representative sent to Portugal a confirmation of the reality of the principal plan: circumnavigating Africa, to reach the caravels from the coast of Africa through the Indian Ocean to the Lands of Spices.
Bartolomeu Diash went on an expedition in 1487. He rounded the southern tip of Africa, discovered the Cape of Storms (Cape of Good Hope). He understood that he had a chance to get to the Land of Spices. But the participants of the expedition, fearing death, collectively forced him to turn back to his homeland. Ostensibly Bartolomeu Diash composed a document signed by all the participants of the expedition, where it was said about the need to return. This document was submitted to the King.
Expedition Bartolomeu Diash returned from the voyage. And Portuguese sailors already in 1488 learned that Africa can be circumambulated, that the Land of Spices is within reach.
July 8, 1497, a squadron of Vasco da Gama entered the sea. Knowing about the opening of the Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama to the demands of the participants of the expedition on the return responded: "setting off from Lisbon, I vowed not to turn back. Everyone who hints about this, I'll throw it overboard."
Trade exchange with Africans in the Bay of Mossel Bay passed safely.
Both Africans and Portuguese were pleased.
Africans decided to celebrate the successful sale of music and dancing - right on the beach.
They began to play on several flutes. Some issued high notes, others - low. A beautiful harmony was created. And the locals danced to the sound of flutes.
Inspiring memories, upcoming wins, a clear fresh day, a ray of the sun shining through the clouds - all this brought Vasco da Gama into a particularly good mood. Looking at the dancing Africans, he smiled. The face of this man, who had recently mercilessly suppressed rebellions in the squadron, seemed to be lit up.
The sailors were astonished: this resolute, grim, cruel man smiles!
His good mood passed to the team.
The sailors lined up, the squadron commander ordered the trumpeters to play. The words of the ancient song of the Portuguese sailors were heard, the sailor's dance began.
Suddenly, Vasco da Gama realized what else was - so far - the future: he and the sailors - the Portuguese sailors - opened the sea route around Africa to the Lands of Spices .
For a moment his personality and their personalities were freed from the grave concerns of the past and the future.
There were jocular words of a sailor's song about the eyes of a girlfriend: black and infidels.
Under the sounds of the song, the sailors danced an old beloved dance. Danced with a growing tempo acceleration. At first, slowly, with squats and bows, and then all the faster. Together with the sailors Vasco da Gama danced.