Bartolomeu Dias, who died on 29 May 1500, was a Portuguese mariner and explorer who, in February 1488, became the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa. His voyage demonstrated that the most effective southward route for ships bound around the continent was to sail diagonally southwest into the open ocean, well to the west of the African coastline, rather than hugging the shore, a technique that took advantage of prevailing winds and currents. Dias' discoveries and the route he charted were later used by Vasco da Gama to establish the first all-sea trading route between Europe and Asia, opening the passage that would define Portugal's maritime empire in the Indian Ocean for the following century.
Facts
RolePortuguese mariner and explorer; first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa (February 1488). 1 Death PlaceSouth Atlantic Ocean, near the Cape of Good Hope 1 Role
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Source Bartolomeu Dias (Wikipedia)
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Source Wikidata: Bartolomeu Dias
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1. Bartolomeu Dias (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundationbody text, on Dias death near the Cape
Dias perished in May 1500 when captaining a ship near the Cape of Good Hope: four ships, including Dias's, encountered a massive storm off the cape and were lost on 29 May.
body text, on Dias death near the Cape (year)
Dias perished in May 1500 when captaining a ship near the Cape of Good Hope: four ships, including Dias's, encountered a massive storm off the cape and were lost on 29 May.
body text, on Dias death near the Cape (place)
Dias perished in May 1500 when captaining a ship near the Cape of Good Hope: four ships, including Dias's, encountered a massive storm off the cape and were lost on 29 May.
lead, second sentence
In February 1488, he became the first European navigator to round the southern tip of Africa and to demonstrate that the most effective southward route for ships is to go diagonally southwest in the open ocean, well to the west of the African coast.
Bartolomeu Dias: Gender
His voyage demonstrated that the most effective southward route for ships bound around the continent was to sail diagonally southwest into the open ocean, well to the west of the African coastline, rather than hugging the shore, a technique that took advantage of prevailing winds and currents.
View the Source 2. New World Encyclopedia: Bartolomeu Dias
New World EncyclopediaArticle leadQuote, Article lead
(c. 1450, May 29, 1500)
Wikidata: Bartolomeu Dias
Wikidata Q130377, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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