Bartolomeu Dias
Bartolomeu Dias | |
|---|---|
Statue of Dias at the High Commission of South Africa in London | |
| Born | c. 1450 |
| Died | 29 May 1500 (aged approximately 50) South Atlantic Ocean, near the Cape of Good Hope |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Other names | Bartholomew Diaz |
| Occupation(s) | Navigator and explorer |
| Known for | Being the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa |
Bartolomeu Dias (c. 1450 – 29 May 1500) was a Portuguese mariner and explorer. In 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 lies in the open ocean, well to the west of the African coast. His discoveries were later used by Vasco da Gama to establish a sea route between Europe and Asia.