The correct answer is option 1, Vasco da Gama. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the sea route to India via the `Cape of Good Hope` in 1498. This route was significant as it opened up direct trade between Europe and India, bypassing the land route controlled by the Ottomans. Vasco da Gama`s voyage marked the beginning of the Age of Discovery and the era of European colonialism. This discovery had a profound impact on global trade and helped establish Portuguese control over the Indian Ocean trade routes. It also paved the way for other European powers, such as the Dutch and British, to establish their own trade networks in the region.