Final answer:
The Portuguese mariner who sailed to Calicut in 1498 was Vasco da Gama. He is notable for leading the first successful sea journey from Europe to India, which opened up lucrative trade routes and helped establish Portuguese dominance in the region over the spice trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Portuguese mariner who sailed to Calicut in 1498 was Vasco da Gama. His voyage marked a significant historical moment as it was the first successful sea journey from Europe to India. Vasco da Gama's journey paved the way for future expeditions, establishing trading posts and securing trade agreements, which greatly contributed to the establishment of a Portuguese empire in the Indian Ocean region.
The consequences of Da Gama's actions were profound, both for Portugal and the regions with which it traded. His success led to the increased influence of Portugal in the Indian Ocean, allowing them to conquer coastal East African city-states and establish colonies in areas like Angola and Mozambique.
However, Da Gama's forceful tactics and the violent encounters with Muslim traders cast him as a controversial figure, celebrated in Portugal but seen as a villain in the Indian subcontinent.
Portuguese control of key trading ports after battles, such as the ones in 1508 at Chaul and in 1509 at Diu against the Mamluk-Gujarati-Calicut fleet, underscored their dominant maritime presence. Their victory and establishment of a trading post in Diu, as well as the conquest of Malacca, were pivotal in ensuring Portugal's place in the spice trade and their position as a powerful sea empire during the Age of Discovery.