The correct answer is option 1: Vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea-route to India. In 1498, he successfully sailed from Europe to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope, which is the southern tip of Africa. This route opened up a direct trade route between Europe and India, bypassing the overland routes through the Middle East that were controlled by the Ottoman Empire. This discovery had a significant impact on European exploration and trade in the following centuries, as it increased trade between Europe and the lucrative markets of the Indian subcontinent. Vasco da Gama`s successful voyage to India marked the beginning of European colonial dominance in the region.