First English ships sailed down the west coast of [[1]], round the Cape of Good Hope, and crossed the [[2]].

The First English ships that crossed the Indian Ocean, sailed down the west coast of Africa, round the Cape of Good Hope. By the time the British came to India, the Portuguese had already established their presence in that region. Vasco da Gama was the first Portuguese who was able to cross the Indian Ocean and reach the coast of India at Calicut.