• In 1487, Bartolomeu Dias rounded the southern tip of Africa, now called the Cape of Good Hope.
• In 1497, Vasco da Gama continued sailing up the eastern African coast. From modern-day Kenya, he sailed east to Calicut in India. The round trip took two years.
Da Gama had proven that it was possible to successfully sail around Africa and reach India (and later China). The results of this were:
• Trade made Portugal wealthy. • Portugal established a large empire in Africa and Asia (and later, South America). • Portugal gained control of the spice trade by defeating various Arab and Muslim kingdoms. • Imports of spices into Europe increased.
• Other European rulers wanted to copy Portugal’s success by engaging in voyages of their own.
CHECKPOINT!
1. Why were the earliest voyages of exploration begun by Portugal? 2. What did Prince Henry do to support these voyages? 3. What voyages did (a) Bartolomeu Dias and (b) Vasco da Gama undertake? 4. What were the results of the Portuguese voyages of exploration?
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I can describe Portugal’s role in the early voyages of exploration and the results of these voyages.
