The first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa was:
A) Bartolomeu Dias.
B) Prince Henry the Navigator.
C) Vasco da Gama.
D) Christopher Columbus.
E) Bartolomé de las Casas.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bartolomeu Dias was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa in 1488, opening up the sea route from Europe to Asia via the Indian Ocean. Prince Henry the Navigator financed Dias' expedition and was instrumental in Portugal's navigation and exploration during the Age of Discovery. Vasco da Gama later followed Dias' route and reached India in 1498. Christopher Columbus, on the other hand, is known for his exploration of the Americas, not Africa. Bartolomé de las Casas was a Spanish colonist and historian who wrote about the mistreatment of indigenous peoples in the New World, but he did not sail around the southern tip of Africa.

The First European to Sail Around the Southern Tip of Africa