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The Journey Around Africa(Diaz)
Bartholomeu Diaz commanded a fleet of three ships , his own "São Cristóvão," the "São Pantaleão" under his associate João Infante, and a supply ship under Dias' brothert . The fleet left Portugal in the summer of 1487. After reaching the mouth of the Orange River in southern Africa, a storm blew the ships out to sea. Dias and his crews did not see land for 13 days. When the storm ended, he realized that the ships had been blown around the southern tip of Africa. He sailed along the southeast shore of the continent, hoping to continue on to India. However, the men were exhausted by their long voyage, and their food supply was running low. They persuaded Dias to return to Portugal. As the expedition sailed around the tip of Africa toward Portugal, Dias sighted what is now called the Cape of Good Hope. According to tradition, he named it the Cape of Storms. However, King John later renamed it the Cape of Good Hope because its discovery indicated that a sea route to India would soon be found. The expedition reached Portugal in December 1488.
Nothing is known of Dias' reception by John II. Although plans are said to have been made for a voyage to India, none was attempted for nine years, perhaps pending news of Pêro da Covilhã. John's successor, Manuel I, authorized Vasco da Gama's celebrated voyage of 1497. Bartolomeu Dias accompanied that expedition as far as Mina.
His Final VoyageIn 1500 Diaz commanded a ship in the fleet of Pedro Alvares Cabral, who was attempting to retrace Vasco da Gama's route to India.The fleet sailed far into the western Atlantic on its way to the Cape and sighted land at Espírito Santo in Brazil. Thought to be an island, it was named the Land of the True Cross. Dias thus participated in the discovery of Brazil . Heading southeastward, the fleet encountered fierce storms, four of Cabral's ships were sunk, including the one commanded by Diaz, taking the lives of all on board.
Biography................Bartholomeu Diaz
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