Portugal's voyages were only possible because of funding from Portugal's Prince Henry the Navigator. Prince Henry was keen on expanding Portugal's economy by funding a navigation school for European sailors. Building on the knowledge gained by the explorers influenced by Prince Henry, other explorers were able to succeed. Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama were later appointed by King John II to find a new trade route to Asia.
In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. His path took him along Africa's west coast and paved the way for his fellow Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama.
Vasco da Gama was best known for being the first explorer to travel from Europe to India by sailing around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama landed and traded in locals along the coast of southern Africa before reaching the coasts of India in 1498.He was responsible for finding sea routes that bypassed Ottoman merchants connecting Europeans directly to the Indian Ocean markets.
In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. His path took him along Africa's west coast and paved the way for his fellow Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama.
Vasco da Gama was best known for being the first explorer to travel from Europe to India by sailing around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. Vasco da Gama landed and traded in locals along the coast of southern Africa before reaching the coasts of India in 1498.He was responsible for finding sea routes that bypassed Ottoman merchants connecting Europeans directly to the Indian Ocean markets.