Portuguese navigator Bartolomeo Dias is one of the first European explorers of the oceans. His most famous journey ended with the fact that he managed to circumnavigate Africa.
Early years
The early biography of Bartolomeo Dias is practically unknown due to his obscure origins. He was born around 1450. The future navigator was lucky to get an education at the University of Lisbon. In the main Portuguese abode of knowledge, Bartolomeo Dias studied mathematics and astronomy. These sciences were the main applied disciplines for sailors. Therefore, it is not surprising that the young man connected his life with travel.
The second half of the 15th century was a great time to become a navigator. Bartolomeo Dias found himself in the first European generation, who was destined to start discovering distant lands. Prior to this, in the views of Catholics, the world was limited to their continent and two more parts of the world - Africa and Asia. In the Late Middle Ages there was a technological leap. New ships and instruments appeared, allowing the captains to keep the course correctly.
In his youth, Bartolomeo Dias worked in the port. His first expedition took place in1481. At this time, the Portuguese had just begun to explore the west coast of Africa. Bartolomeo Dias took part in the construction of the important Elmina Fort in what is now Ghana. This fortress became the main transshipment base for future Portuguese expeditions.
First trips
Portuguese authorities closely followed the news from their sailors. European kings were obsessed with the idea of finding the shortest route to distant India. There were many expensive and unique goods in this country. A state that controlled trade with India would be an order of magnitude richer than its neighbors.
The main struggle in the XV-XVI centuries. deployed at sea between Portugal and Spain. Their ships competed in the internal European markets and were now ready to go beyond the Old World. The Portuguese king João II personally oversaw a project to explore the west coast of Africa. The monarch wanted to find out how far this continent extended to the south and whether it could be circumnavigated by a fleet.
In 1474 Diogo Cana's expedition was organized at the expense of the state. It was an experienced captain, whose partner and comrade was Bartolomeo Dias. Kan managed to get to Angola and open a new frontier for his successors. During the journey, the brave explorer died, and the expedition returned to Lisbon.
Expedition to India
Juan II, despite the failure, did not want to give up. He assembled a new fleet. This time, Bartolomeo Dias became the captain of the squadron. The discoveries he could make in casethe success of a risky venture, would have turned the views of Europeans about the world around them. Dias received three ships. One of them was commanded by the navigator's brother Diogo.
There were 60 people in the team. These were the most experienced and sophisticated sailors of their time. All of them had already been to Africa, knew well the coastal waters and the safest route. Peru Alinker, the most famous navigator of his era, stood out in particular.
On African shores
Diash sailed from his native country in the summer of 1487. Already in December, he managed to overcome the milestone that the previous expedition had not conquered. Because of the storms that had begun, the ships had to go to the open sea for some time. Throughout January, the ships strayed in the South Atlantic. The waves were getting colder, and it became clear to the team that she had lost her course. It was decided to turn back. However, by this time the current had carried the two small ships too far to the east.
Finally, on February 3, the sailors again saw African land astern. Because of the winding route, they sailed past the Cape of Good Hope - the southernmost point of the mainland. Approaching the coast, the Portuguese saw mountains and green hills. The bright and picturesque nature of these places inspired Dias to name the bay into which his ships entered Shepherds Bay. Europeans really saw cows and their owners - local natives.
Hottentots lived on the shore. This tribe first learned about the existence of white people. The expedition of Bartolomeo Dias was carefully organized - the Portuguese took Africans from Ghana with them (in caseif translators are needed). However, they could not find a common language with the Hottentots. The natives were wary of the strangers and attacked them. One of them was shot with a crossbow by Bartolomeo Dias himself. Africa was inhospitable. The Europeans had to push off and try to find a more peaceful place to land.
Return Home
All the travels of Bartolomeo Dias were unpredictable. None of the sailors knew what awaited them on the new shore. After the conflict with the natives, the Portuguese sailed another hundred kilometers to the east. In the area of the modern city of Port Elizabeth, officers began to demand a return home. Bartolomeo Dias did not agree with this. The biography of the navigator was full of such dangers. He wanted to keep going east. However, the captain still gave in to the demands of the team, fearing a riot. In addition, officers and sailors faced the threat of an outbreak of scurvy on their ships. Europeans tried to replenish drinking water on the shore, but in that era, illness could overcome the crew at any stage of the voyage.
On the way back, the ships finally ended up on the shore of the Cape of Good Hope. Europeans first appeared in the southern point of the African continent. Then this place was called Cape Storms. This toponym was chosen by Bartolomeo Dias. What did he discover in that distant 1488? It was the shortest sea route to India. Dias himself never visited this distant and desirable country, but it was he who became the main harbinger of this Portuguese discovery.
Importance of discovery
After 16 months of travel, at the very end of 1488, Dias returned to his homeland. His discoveries became a state secret. It was feared in Portugal that the news of the new lands would rekindle interest in Spain. For this reason, there was not even documentary evidence of the meeting between Dias and Juan. However, there is no doubt that he was rewarded for his courage and professionalism.
The paucity of documents relating to the expedition was the reason that historians could not find out which ships Dias received - caravels or other models. At that time, even the Portuguese and Spaniards had too little experience in ocean exploration. Many trips were organized largely at your own peril and risk. Diash's journey was no exception.
Preparing a new journey to the East
Unbelievable opportunities have opened before Portugal. However, the crown dragged on for a long time with the organization of a new expedition. Juan began to have money problems, and the projects for finding the eastern route were curtailed for some time.
It wasn't until 1497 that the monarch finally sent ships to India. However, Vasco da Gama was appointed head of that expedition. Bartolomeo Dias, whose photo of monuments is in every geography textbook, received another assignment. The former captain began to lead the construction of ships for the expedition of his comrade. Dias knew better than anyone what the Portuguese would have to face in the eastern seas. The ships created according to his design did not disappoint the travelers who went to India.
Continuation of service
When Vasco da Gama's expedition was ready to depart, Dias was appointed commandant of a fortress on the Gold Coast (modern Guinea). The navigator accompanied travelers to India until he ended up in the fort, in which he now had to serve.
Diash's guesses about India were confirmed after a few years. Vasco da Gama, following the instructions of his senior comrade, really got to the legendary country. Expensive oriental goods soon flowed into Portugal, making this small kingdom one of the richest European states.
Discovery of Brazil
Diash's last trip was an expedition to Brazil. If the Portuguese were looking for India, following an easterly course, then their main competitors, the Spaniards, went west. So in 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America. News of a new uncharted mainland and islands to the west intrigued the Portuguese.
The king financed several more expeditions to get ahead of the Spaniards. At that time, there was a rule in European politics according to which the newly discovered land became the property of the country that owned the ships that discovered the hitherto unseen coast.
In 1500, Bartolomeo Dias piloted a ship as part of an expedition that reached Brazil. The Portuguese ships sailed south of the usual Spanish course. The success of the trip was impressive. A shore was opened with no end in sight. The Europeans did not yet understand: the path is to India or completelyto another part of the world.
Diash was unlucky already on the way back: on May 29, 1500, his ship fell into a terrible Atlantic storm, which European explorers were so afraid of. The ship of the brave and experienced captain was lost. He died in the waters that immortalized his name.
