Vasco da Gama is credited with discovering the sea route to India. His journey, which began in 1497, was significant because it linked Europe to the lucrative spice trade in Asia. Da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and reached the Indian coast, establishing a maritime route that would allow for direct trade between Europe and India. This opening of trade routes was pivotal in the Age of Discovery, leading to increased European exploration, colonization, and the establishment of trade empires in Asia and beyond, fundamentally altering global trade dynamics.