History Today: When new trade routes opened for India with Vasco da Gama's arrival

One of the most remarkable moments in Indian history took place on May 20, 1498, when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut on the Malabar Coast. His arrival marked a pivotal moment in global history as he was able to discover a direct maritime route to India.

If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

The official patenting of blue jeans in the United States on May 20, 1873, represents the genesis of one of the most enduring and recognisable garments in the history of fashion.

Here is all that took place on this day across the world.

Vasco da Gama arrives in India

Who does not know about Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama? Well, it was on May 20, 1498, that he stepped foot in Calicut (present-day Kozhikode, Kerala), thus, becoming the first European to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean.

Departing from Lisbon, Portugal in July 1497, da Gama’s expedition navigated around the Cape of Good Hope and subsequently reached anchorage at Malindi, situated on the eastern coast of Africa. Here he met an Indian merchant and with his aid, he set off across the Indian Ocean.

Upon his arrival in Calicut, Vasco da Gama encountered a significant and prosperous trading city under the governance of the Zamorin, a powerful regional ruler. Although his initial reception was cordial, his mission ultimately met with limited success. According to History.com, the gifts presented by da Gama were deemed of insufficient value by the Zamorin’s court and tensions swiftly escalated between the Portuguese contingent and local merchants, notably the Muslim traders who held a dominant position in the Indian Ocean trade networks.

Notwithstanding the challenging diplomatic climate, da Gama successfully procured a limited cargo of spices and returned to Portugal in 1499. Although the expedition spanned nearly two years, it was celebrated as a pivotal achievement, establishing the sea route to India and affording Portugal a considerable advantage in the international spice trade, thereby inaugurating a new epoch of European exploration and colonial expansion.

Blue jeans were patented

On this day in 1873, blue jeans were officially patented in the United States, marking the birth of one of the most iconic garments in fashion history.  The patent was granted to Jacob W Davis, a tailor from Nevada’s Reno and Levi Strauss, a German-born businessman based in San Francisco.

Jacob Davis had been producing sturdy trousers for miners, utilising denim fabric sourced from Levi Strauss. In 1871, he developed a distinctive technique involving the application of “metal rivets” to reinforce points of high stress on the aforementioned trousers, specifically including the pockets and the base of the fly. This innovation provided exceptional durability upon the garments, rendering them ideally suited for the demanding conditions faced by labourers during the California Gold Rush . Recognising the significant commercial potential inherent in this concept but lacking the personal resources to secure a patent, Davis initiated contact with Levi Strauss to propose a collaborative venture.

Together, they applied for a patent, which was granted as US Patent No. 139,121 for the process of “improvement in fastening pocket openings.” This patent officially marked the invention of riveted blue jeans. Once the jeans were patented, Strauss brought Davis to San Francisco to oversee the first manufacturing facility for “waist overalls,” as the original jeans were known.

The first jeans were made from brown duck canvas and blue denim, and featured copper rivets, a button fly and a leather patch - features still associated with jeans today. At first, they employed seamstresses working out of their homes, but by the 1880s, Strauss had opened his own factory. Initially designed as durable workwear, blue jeans gained popularity across different professions and eventually became a staple of American casual wear.

With inputs from agencies