Summary:
Provides biographical detail on the life of Bartholomeu Dias, a courageous 15th century Portuguese sea captain and explorer. Describes his contributions to the European Age of Exploration.
Bartholomeu Dias definitely lived up to that image. He was a very interesting and adventurous person. Courageous too, since he was the first European to see the stormy Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. During his life, Dias embarked on many voyages which helped him become that famous navigator and explorer who he is eminent for. Some of the voyages were successful, some weren"t. However, they all contributed to his exciting and daring life. Not much is known about Dias? background. Some historians believe that he was a descendant or a relative of João Dias who sailed around Cape Bojador in 1434. And of Deniz Dias who is said to have discovered the Cape Verde Islands.
In his early life Dias was a cavalier of the royal court, superintendent of the royal warehouses and sailing- master of the man of war "San Christovao". As a youth Dias also entered the hazardous gold and ivory trade along the African Gold Coast and is said to have ? rose to the rank of captain.? ( Appleton, 1).
Dias became an explorer when King John II appointed him on October 10, 1486, as the head of an expedition which was to sail around the southern coast of Africa. It's primary purpose was to find the country of the Christian African King known as Prester John. They wanted to find this King because the Portuguese wished to enter into friendly relations with him. The main reason for Dias wanting to become an explorer is unknown. However, he probably wanted to explore because he wished to gain wealth or get the chance to explore new and foreign lands.
Dias began his life as an explorer when he departed Lisbon in 1487, after ten months of preparation. He set sail with two armed caravels and one supply-ship. His first destination was the mouth of Congo. Then he followed the African coast and sailed toward Walfisch Bay. Unfortunately, at that time he came upon a violent storm, which lasted for thirteen days. When calmer weather revisited he set sail again in an easterly direction, but couldn"t see any land. So, instead he sailed northward and landed in Bahia dos Vaqueriros ( Mossel Bay). Soon he reached Algoa Bay and then the Great Fish River. Historians believe ? It was only in his return voyage that he discovered the Cape.? ( Appleton, 1.) The "Cape? is actually the Cape of Good Hope which King John, in view of the success of the expedition, is said to have kept the name it had since Dias founded it.
Dias returned to Lisbon from this expedition in the year 1488 after traveling for sixteen months and seventeen days. Dias is said to have also accompanied Vasco da Gama in 1497 and traveled with him as far as the Cape Verde Islands. In 1500 Dias is said to have also traveled with Cabral. ? Dias commanded a ship in the expedition of Cabral; his vessel, however, was one of those wrecked not far from Cape of Good Hope, which he had discovered thirteen years before.? ( Appleton, 1.) Bartholomeu Dias died in the year 1500.
In conclusion, Bartholomeu Dias had a great impact on the European Age of Exploration. He not only explored new lands, he opened up new ways for other explorers. ? He had shown way to Vasco da Gama when he found the Cape of Good Hope.? (O'Connor, 1.) History is a funny thing; if one man, such as Bartholomeu Dias didn"t find something like the Cape of Good Hope, everything around that area would be completely different. It's just like the person who found our country, America. For all we know, if somebody else founded the US, we might all by speaking a totally different language and have completely different traditions. This is why explorers, such as Bartholomeu Dias are important. They are the ones who found the lands where people like us live today, without them where would we be?
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