Which Portuguese explorer led the 1497 expedition that named the South African coast of Natal on Christmas Day and eventually reached India by sea?
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Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama's voyage was the first to link Europe and Asia by an ocean route, significantly changing global trade by bypassing the Silk Road. He named the region 'Natal' because his fleet sighted the South African coast on Christmas Day, using the Portuguese word for the holiday.
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- Which explorer commanded the 1497 voyage that first linked Europe and Asia via an ocean route around the coast of South Africa?