Bartholomew+Dias

Events media type="file" key="interview.mp3"
 * Because he was so good as a sailor, King John II decided to use him as an explorer.
 * After several months of sailing Africa's west coast, Dias was rewarded by becoming a member of the royal household in 1481
 * Was superintendent of the royal warehouses


 * In 1486 and King John II had Dias explore the west part of Africa to find the Christian African king Prester John and a sea route to India
 * In 1487 he left Lisbon and went out to sea.
 * After reaching themouth of the Orange River he was caught in a storm for 13 days.
 * He noticed that he was around the southern tip of Africa
 * Called the spot where he landed Herdsmen's Bay and put up a stone marker in 1488
 * Had to return to Portugal because his crew was exhausted from the voyage and they were running low on food


 * To get back to Lisbon Dias had to go back through the Cape of Storms again
 * Got back after 16 months and 17 days
 * He told King John about his adventure and King John decided to rename it Cape of Good Hope so that sailors wouldn't be afraid to go there and because it led to a sea route to India
 * Thanks to the voyage Europeans could trade directly with India and other parts of Asia and not have to take the overland route through the middle east and worry about the expensive middle men
 * 1494 he directed the construction of two ships
 * Those ships were the first successful expedition around Africa to India
 * That expedition was led by Vasco da Gama, another Portugues explorer, in 1497
 * 1500 Dias commanded four ships went out to sea again but the captain was Pedro Cabal
 * Trying to follow da Gama's route to India,the fleet drifted off course and reached what is now Brazil
 * Dias died on the return from Brazil in the south Atlantic Ocean when a storm sank his ship in May 29, 1500

Wright, H. (Ed.). //Dias Bartholomeu//. (2008). In //The World Book Encyclopedia// (1st ed., Chicago: Vol. 1). Library of Congress Cataloging.

Grolier, I. (Ed.). //Dias Bartholomeu//. (1829). In //American Encyclopedia// (1st ed., Philippines: Vol. 1). Library of Congress Cataloging.

Bartholomeu Dias. (2008). In //Wikipedia// [Web]. New York: Vintage Books. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_Dias

Hartig, O (1908). Bartholomeu Dias. In //The Catholic Encyclopedia// [Web]. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04775b.htm

Script Kevin:Bartholomew Dias, would you mind if I interviewed you to clear some things up on your discovery of the Cape of Good Fortune? Dias:No not at all go right ahead. Kevin: What was your occupation? Bartholomeu Meu Dias: I was an explorer for King John II. Kevin: What led to your discovery of the Cape of Cood Fortune? Dias: For sailing Africa's west coast for several months, King John rewarded me by making me a member of the royal household in 1481. I also became the superintendent of the royal houses. In 1486 King John ordered me to explore the west part of Afrrica to find the Christian African king Prester John and a sea route to India. Kevin: When did you leave? Dias: I left Lisbon in 1487 and got past the mouth of the Orange River. I was going through Walfisch Bay and lost sight of the coast. Next thing I knew I was caught in a storm for 13 days. Kevin: Where were you when you got out of the storm? Dias: I was around the southern tip of Africa. I landed in Herdsmen's Bay and put up a stone marker in 1488. Kevin:Why did you return to Lisbon so soon? Dias: I had to return because my crew was exhausted from travel and we were running low on food. Kevin: On the return trip were you able to come back home without getting caught in another storm? Dias: Unfortunately the only way for us to get back was to go through the Cape of Storms again. Kevin: How did you decide to change the name of the Cape of Storms to the Cape of Good Fortune? Dias: When we got back I told King John II about the adventure and we decided to change name of the Cape of Storms to the Cape of Good Fortune so that sailors wouldn't be afraid to explore that area and because I believed it led to a sea route to India. Kevin: Did anything good come from you discovering the Cape of Good Fortune? Dias: Yes. Europeans were able to trade directly with India and other parts of Asia without taking the overland route through the Middle East and deal with the middle man. Kevin: Were there any more accomplishments since your discovery? Dias: In 1494 I directed the construction of two ships which were the first successful in the expedition around Africa to India. Kevin: Did You lead that expedition too? Dias: No that expedition was led by Vasco da Gama, another Portugues explorer, in 1497. Kevin:When was the last time you went out to sea? Dias: In 1500. I commanded four ships but when I went out to sea the captain was Pedro Cabal. Kevin: What led to the downfall of the trip? Dias: We were trying to follow da Gama's route to India,and the fleet drifted off course and reached what is now Brazil. I died on the return from Brazil in the south Atlantic Ocean when a storm sank my ship in May 29, 1500. Kevin: Thank-you for taking the time to take this interview. Dias:No problem. It was an honor. I would be glad to do it again some time.

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