"Vasco Da Gama" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer, navigator, and admiral who is widely recognized as the first person to navigate a route from Europe to India and back in 1497-1499. He is considered one of the most important figures in the Age of Exploration, and his voyage opened up the spice trade between Europe and Asia.
Da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal, in 1469. He began his career at sea as a young man, serving as a navigator on various voyages. In 1497, he was appointed by King Manuel I of Portugal to lead an expedition to India, with the goal of finding a new route to the Spice Islands (present-day Indonesia).
Da Gama set sail on July 8, 1497, with a fleet of four ships and about 170 men. He sailed down the west coast of Africa and crossed the equator, then passed through the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. He continued on to the Indian Ocean and arrived at the port city of Calicut, India, in May 1498.
Da Gama's voyage from Europe to India and back was a major achievement, as it demonstrated that it was possible to navigate around Africa to reach Asia. This new route, which became known as the "Cape Route," replaced the traditional "Mediterranean Route" and opened up new opportunities for trade and exploration.
Da Gama's voyage also had a significant impact on European history, as it marked the beginning of Portuguese involvement in Asian trade and led to the establishment of Portuguese colonies and trading posts around the world.
Usage Examples for "Vasco da Gama"
"Urbi et orbi" is a Latin phrase that means "to the city and the world." It is a traditional salutation used by the Pope in his Christmas and Easter messages to refer to the global Catholic community. The phrase is a way of addressing all people on earth, emphasizing the Pope's role as the spiritual leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.
"Urim and Thummim" refers to an ancient Hebrew method of divine communication or decision-making, used by the high priest of Israel. It was usually associated with two objects, kept in the breastplate of the high priest, which were used to receive divine guidance or confirmation for important matters. The exact nature and mechanism of these objects remain unclear, but they are often mentioned together in the Old Testament.
"Used to be" is a phrase that indicates something was true or happened in the past but is no longer the case now. It often implies a change or a difference from the present situation. For example, "I used to be a smoker, but I quit five years ago" means the person was a smoker at some point in the past but isn't one now.
"Uti possidetis juris" is a legal principle that, at the end of a conflict or the dissolution of a state, territories and other assets are distributed among the successor states or entities as they existed at the beginning of the conflict or at the time of dissolution. It basically means that what you possess, you keep, ensuring stability and preventing territorial disputes. This principle has been used in various historical contexts, particularly in the breakup of empires or colonies.
V.S. Naipaul was a Trinidadian-British novelist and essayist known for his works exploring cultural displacement, colonialism, and identity. His full name was Vidyanath Naipaul, and he won several literary awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2001.
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"Van der Waals" is a term named after Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals. In the context of physics and chemistry, it refers to the intermolecular forces that exist between atoms or molecules due to their temporary fluctuations in electron distribution. These forces are weaker than covalent bonds but play a significant role in phenomena like cohesion, surface tension, and adhesion. Van der Waals forces are particularly important in understanding the behavior of gases at low pressures and the properties of substances like liquids and solids.
"Van der Waals" refers to a set of intermolecular forces that exist between atoms or molecules, named after Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals. These forces are responsible for the cohesion and adhesion of substances, playing a crucial role in phenomena like the surface tension of liquids, the adhesion of water to surfaces, and the condensation of gases into liquids. Van der Waals forces include attractions such as dipole-dipole interactions, London dispersion forces, and hydrogen bonding.
"Veni, vidi, vici" is a Latin phrase that means "I came, I saw, I conquered." It was famously used by Julius Caesar to describe his swift victory over the Persian king Pharnaces II in 47 BC. The phrase represents the idea of achieving success quickly and decisively.
The Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek statue of the goddess Aphrodite (Venus to the Romans) that was carved in the 2nd century BC. It is famous for its beauty and the fact that it is missing both of its arms. The statue is named after the island of Milos (or Milo), where it was discovered in 1820. It is now displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, and it has become an iconic representation of classical art.
"Verba volant, scripta manent" is a Latin phrase that means "spoken words fly away, written words remain." It emphasizes the idea that written records are permanent and enduring, while spoken words can be easily forgotten or lost.
"Vin de pays" is a French term that refers to a type of wine. It translates to "country wine" in English. In the European Union's wine classification system, vin de pays is a category below "AOC" (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) wines. These wines are made from specific grape varieties grown in designated regions but have less strict production rules than AOC wines. They generally offer a more affordable and approachable option for consumers.
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Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. He is known for his expressive, colorful paintings and his tragic personal life, which included mental health struggles and his untimely death by suicide. Some of his most famous works include "The Starry Night," "Sunflowers," and "Irises." Van Gogh's unique style and emotional depth have made him an enduring symbol of artistic genius.
"Viola da braccio" is an Italian term that refers to a stringed instrument played under the chin, like a violin or viola. It denotes the family of instruments that are held and played with the neck resting on the player's shoulder, as opposed to instruments like the viola da gamba, which is played between the legs. In modern times, the term is often used to describe the viola specifically, as it is the largest member of the violin family commonly played "da braccio."
Viola da gamba is a stringed musical instrument that was popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It is similar in appearance to a viola but with a larger body and seven strings. It is played upright, resting on the player's lap, hence the name "viol" (from the Italian "viola da gamba," meaning "viol for the leg"). The instrument has a rich, mellow tone and was often used in chamber music and as a solo instrument.