The Cape, more specifically the small area around present day Cape Town, was the first part of South Africa to be settled by Europeans. The arrival of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama at Calicut, India, in 1498 opened a gateway of free access to Asia from Western Europe around the Cape of Good Hope; however, it also necessitated the founding and safeguarding of trade stations in the East.Entry: Cape Colony. Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2: Brain to Casting. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1933. James Louis Garvin, editor. The Portuguese landed in Mossel Bay in 1500, explored Table Bay two years later, and by 1510 had started raiding inland. Shortly afterwards, the Dutch Republic sent merchant vessels to India and, in 1602, founded the Dutch East India Company (; VOC). As the volume of traffic rounding the Cape increased, the VOC recognised its natural harbour as an ideal watering point for the long voyage around Africa to the Orient and established a victualling station there in 1652.
The Cape more specifically the small area around present day Cape Town was the first part of South Africa to be settled by Europeans The arrival of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama at Calicut India in 1498 opened a gateway of free access to Asia from Western Europe around the Cape of Good Hope; however it also necessitated the founding and safeguarding of trade stations in the EastEntry Cape Colony Encyclopædia Britannica Volume 4 Part 2 Brain to Casting Encyclopædia Britannica Inc 1933 James Louis Garvin editor The Portuguese landed in Mossel Bay in 1500 explored Table Bay two years later and by 1510 had started raiding inland Shortly afterwards the Dutch Republic sent merchant vessels to India and in 1602 founded the Dutch East India Company (; VOC) As the volume of traffic rounding the Cape increased the VOC recognised its natural harbour as an ideal watering point for the long voyage around Africa to the Orient and established a victualling station there in 1652