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The Answer is Bartholomew Dias (also spelled Bartolomeu Dias) was a Portuguese explorer who lived during the 15th century. He is most famous for being the first European mariner to round the southern tip of Africa, opening the way for a sea route from Europe to Asia.

Dias was born in Portugal around 1450, though the exact date is not known. He came from a noble family and was a gentleman of the royal court. King John II of Portugal appointed him to head an expedition to explore the coast of Africa and find a way to the Indian Ocean, which was part of the Portuguese effort to find a direct trade route to Asia that bypassed the overland routes controlled by other European powers and Middle Eastern empires.

In 1487, Dias set sail from Portugal with three ships. His journey took him farther than any European had gone before along the African coast. In 1488, after navigating through what he called the "Cape of Storms" (later renamed the Cape of Good Hope by King John II, to reflect the optimism of the route providing a sea link to India), Dias proved that the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were connected. This discovery was significant because it meant that ships could potentially sail from Europe to Asia without having to navigate the treacherous waters of the Middle East.

Although Dias had opened up the possibility of a sea route to India, he did not complete the journey himself. On his return to Portugal, he reported his findings to the king and provided valuable information for future expeditions. It was another Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama, who would eventually make the first all-water voyage from Europe to India, following the route pioneered by Dias.

Bartholomew Dias continued to serve the Portuguese crown and later participated in da Gama's first voyage to India as a shipmaster. Unfortunately, Dias died in 1500 during a storm off the Cape of Good Hope while on a voyage with a fleet led by Pedro Álvares Cabral, which would eventually lead to the discovery of Brazil by the Europeans.

Dias's achievements were crucial in the Age of Discovery and helped to establish Portugal as a leading maritime power in the 15th and 16th centuries. His successful rounding of the Cape of Good Hope marked a significant milestone in world history, facilitating the spice trade and other commerce between Europe and the East, which had profound economic and cultural impacts on the world.

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