Explorers · Head-to-head
Vasco da Gama vs Ferdinand Magellan
Yes — based on their recorded years, Vasco da Gama (c. 1460s–1524) and Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
Vasco da Gama
A Portuguese explorer whose voyage opened the first direct maritime route between Europe and India.
Key achievements
- Discovered the first direct maritime route between Europe and India
- Sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and across the Indian Ocean to reach Kozhikode
- Opened European exploration of and commerce with India
- His voyage is considered a turning point in world history
Fast fact
Da Gama's route connected Europe to India across the Indian Ocean via Malindi in present-day Kenya.
Full profile of Vasco da Gama →Ferdinand Magellan
A Portuguese explorer whose 1519–1522 expedition achieved the first circumnavigation of the globe.
Key achievements
- Planned and led the 1519–1522 Spanish expedition to the East Indies
- Became the first European to encounter the Strait of Magellan
- Achieved the first European crossing of the Pacific Ocean
- His expedition's completion by his crew marked the first circumnavigation of Earth
Fast fact
Magellan was killed in battle in the Philippines in 1521, before his crew completed the voyage.
Full profile of Ferdinand Magellan →Who lived first, Vasco da Gama or Ferdinand Magellan?
Vasco da Gama (c. 1460s–1524) lived first, before Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521), based on their recorded years.
Were Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan contemporaries?
Yes — based on their recorded years, Vasco da Gama (c. 1460s–1524) and Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) were alive at the same time for at least part of their lives.
What do Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan have in common?
Both Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are grouped among our Explorers figures and lived during the Renaissance.