Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias is one of the first European explorers of the oceans. In his most famous voyage, the sailor circled Africa.
Many moments of the biography of the great navigator Bartolomeu Dias remain unknown. The future researcher was born in 1450. A seafarer was educated at the University of Lisbon.
Maiden voyage
For sailors, the leading disciplines were mathematics with astronomy. The young man who had studied them well decided to connect life with sea voyages. He began work at the port. In his time, the world was limited to the continent, and also knew about Africa and Asia. In the era of the Late Middle Ages, technological progress began. New ships were built, devices were invented that made it easier to plot the course.
The first expedition took place in 1481. The study of the west coast of Africa barely began. Diash participated in the construction of Elmina, a fort in the modern territory of Ghana. The fortress served as the main transshipment base for the Portuguese. European rulers dreamed of the shortest route to India, wanting to surpass their neighbors in wealth.
The main struggle at sea, Portugal led with Spain. In the studies of the West African coast, King Juan II was personally interested. He wanted to find out the size of the mainland, whether it is possible to circumnavigate it by sea.
In 1474, the expedition to Diogu Cana was financed by the state. The dias became the companion of the experienced sailor. Researchers reached Angola, opening new frontiers for followers. After the death of Caen, the expedition members returned to Lisbon.
New study
The ruler of Portugal assembled a new fleet with Dias at the head of the squadron. One of the three ships was commanded by brother Bartolomeu Diogu.
All six dozen participants were experienced sailors. Everyone came to Africa, knew coastal waters, and safe routes. Ships sailed from their native shores in the summer of 1487. By the end of the year, ships crossed the line of their last voyage. For some time due to the storms that began, the fleet was forced to be in the open sea.
Having lost in the South Atlantic during January, the team realized that they had lost their course. On February 3, African land finally appeared behind the stern. Sailing past its southernmost mainland point, the sailors noticed green hills. On the shore, the team saw picturesque landscapes.
The area was named Shepherd's Bay. The Hottentots living in her were wary of strangers. Europeans left the inhospitable shores in search of calmer places. Due to the unpredictability of the outcome, none of the participants knew what was expected on the new shore.
Sailing east, the Portuguese requested homecoming. Diash was against ending the expedition. However, due to the threat of an outbreak, the requirements had to be ceded. On the way back, sailors went ashore of the Cape of Good Hope. The southern point of the continent was called Cape Storms. In 1488, the shortest sea route to India was opened, but Bartolomeu was never able to visit this country. He became a harbinger of discovery. 16 months later, the squadron returned to its homeland.
Last expedition
Not a word was said about perfect discoveries. In order to maintain secrecy from the rival state of Spain, even evidence of Diash’s meeting with the king was not left. Historians have not been able to find out and models of the ships of the Portuguese. For a long time the king could not decide.
Only by 1497 ships from Vasco da Gama were sent to India. Bartolomeu received a different order. He was appointed shipbuilder. The navigator knew very well what to prepare for in the eastern seas. Reliable ships were created according to his projects, which subsequently did not let the crews down. Diash became the commandant of the fortress on the Gold Coast.
Until the fort, he accompanied travelers to Vasco da Gama. Diash’s assumptions about India were confirmed several years later. Yes, Gama got to the desired country, following the instructions of an experienced researcher.
Expensive oriental goods went to Portugal, turning a small state into one of the richest in Europe. The last discovery was an expedition to the coast of Brazil.
The Portuguese began to search for India eastward. The main rivals, the Spaniards, headed west. In 1492 America was discovered by Columbus. The Portuguese were interested in the news of a new and until then unknown continent. The king funded several trips to get ahead of the Spaniards.
