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How did Bartolomeu Dias’s voyage help make Vasco da Gama’s expedition possible?
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Vasco da Gama
Knight of the Order of Christ, detail identified as Vasco da Gama, Portuguese school, first half of the 16th century; in the National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisbon.
Bartolomeu Dias’s 1488 voyage was instrumental in making Vasco da Gama’s expedition possible by proving that a sea route to the Indian Ocean existed around the southern tip of Africa. By successfully rounding the Cape of Good Hope, Dias demonstrated that the Atlantic and Indian oceans were connected, effectively opening the maritime path to India and the markets of Asia.12
Beyond this geographical discovery, Dias provided direct support for da Gama’s 1497 expedition:
- Technical Expertise: Dias supervised the construction of the São Gabriel and São Raphael, the vessels used by da Gama for his historic voyage.1
- Mentorship: Dias accompanied da Gama’s fleet as far as the Cape Verde Islands, sharing his navigational experience and knowledge of the African coast.1
By establishing the feasibility of the route and contributing his expertise to the preparation of the fleet, Dias laid the essential groundwork that allowed da Gama to become the first European to reach India by sea.314