Cape of Good Hope
It was first discovered by Europeans in 1488 and became part of an important trade route to the East
Bartolomeu Dias (1488) First European to see the Cape. Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal began the age of Exploration by sending sailors to explore the West Coast of Africa. His work was continued by King John II, who chose Bartolomeu to continue the trade route to India. After passing Angola, which has already been reached by Portuguese sailors in the early 1480, Dias and his men were caught in a violent storm. Unable to find land for 30 days, finally sailed into what is now called Mossel Bay, South Africa. His men erected a cross to mark the spot where they both claimed the land and turned back, as was the practice of Portuguese explorers at the time. It on the return trip to Portugal that Dias found the area that he named the Cape of Storms, later named the Cape of Good Hope.
Vasco da Gama (1497) First to sailed around the Cape to reach India. He completed the voyage of discovery that Dias began, rounding the Cape of Storms and sailing on to India. Trade with India was the motivation for beginning the Age of Exploration in the first place and the Portuguese were not disappointed. To date, his was the longest sea voyage ever recorded. It gave Portugal a brief monopoly on the Pepper and Cinnamon trade.
Ferdinand Magellan (1519) Actually sailed around the Cape. Given the credit for being the first explorer to circumnavigate because he was the captain in charge of the voyage. His ships however, initially sailed west from Spain, going west from Spain, going through the Strait of Magellan and around Cape Horn, rather than south and he was killed in 1521. Juan Sebastian Elcano took control over what became one surviving ship and 18 crew members by the end of the voyage, successfully completing the circumnavigation and bringing Spain an estimated 26 tons of Spices.
Pedro Cabral (1500) Claimed Brazil before sailing around the Cape. He was also the first to lead an exploration expedition that reached 4 continents. Making sure that the land he claimed was in the Portuguese section specified by the Treaty of Tordesillas. Cabral initially believed that the land which became known as Brazil was a large island; after claiming the land for Portugal and exploring the coast, however, he determined otherwise, and sent word to the King before departing to India He was able to establish a trading relationship with Kochi. It is estimated that upon the return home, Cabral’s voyage yielded an 800% profit to the King of Portugal.
Afonso Albuquerque (1503) Raided the Persian Gulf, Sailed into the Red Sea. Considered by many historians to have been the greatest naval commander of his time. On his first expedition to India, Albuquerque solidified Portuguese control of the area of Calicut and Kochi and given permission to build Fort Kochi to protect the Portuguese trade there. His voyages led to the discover of the Spice islands, establishing trade with China, Malaysia and Indonesia as well as strengthening Portuguese ties with India. In addition, he is believed to have been the first European to reach Hong Kong and Thailand.
Jan Van Riebeeck (1651) Established Colony what became Cape Town. The Dutch East India Company had built trading posts in India and Indonesia. However, in 1651 it was decided that a settlement needed to be established at what became Cape Town because of the high rate of sailor casualties that took place on the long voyage. Jan Van Riebeeck, previously assistant surgeon in the colony of Batavia (now Indonesia) and leader of a trading post in Tonkin (in present day Vietnam), was the Commander of the Cape from 1652-62. He is credited with building a fort, planting crops, and obtaining livestock from the natives of that regions. Today Afrikaners, descendants of the first Dutch settlers in Cape Town, consider him to the founder of their nation.
James Cook (1768) Mapped the areas in the Pacific Ocean. Was commissioned to make three voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. On each trip he rounded the Cape of Good Hope to reach his intended destinations, keeping detailed records of where the ships had landed and what had been seen.
Francis Drake (1577) First captain to complete circumnavigation. Was outfitted by Queen Elizabeth to lead a voyage. The main objective was to hassle the Spanish as much as possible and take their treasure. Beginning in Plymouth, Drake first sailed southwest and made a landfall in both South & North America, raiding Spanish towns along the way and capturing a treasure ship. He not only bought gold back to England, but spices as well. The Queen’s share of wealth bought back from voyage exceeded her crown income in 1580
Arthur Phillip (1787) Commander of First Fleet, Governor of New South Wales. Leaving England with 11 ships and 772 convicts, was already an experienced sea captain. His mission that year was to establish a penal colony in Australia. After stopping in Canary Islands, Phillip then made an unintended stop in Rio de Janeiro for supplies. He then sailed to Cape Town were provisions and water were acquired. He also acquired merino sheep and ordinary sheep from Cape Town and that they became ancestors of what became the booking sheep industry in Australia.
Diogo Dias (1500) First European to sail to Madagascar. Dias had served as a clerk on the voyage of Vasco da Game. Later on his voyage his ship was separated from others at the Cape of Good Hope after their journey was continued, and he landed in Madagascar, naming it Isle of St Lawrence.
For Private & Customized Holidays: www.365tours.in
Past Issues of the newsletter: https://365tours.blogspot.com/