Bartholomeu Dias definitely lived up to that image. He was a very interesting and adventurous person. Courageous too, since he was the first European to see the stormy Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. During his life, Dias embarked on many voyages which helped him become that famous navigator and explorer who he is eminent for. Some of the voyages were successful, some weren"t. However, they all contributed to his exciting and daring life. Not much is known about Dias? background. Some historians believe that he was a descendant or a relative of João Dias who sailed around Cape Bojador in 1434. And of Deniz Dias who is said to have discovered the Cape Verde Islands.

In his early life Dias was a cavalier of the royal court, superintendent of the royal warehouses and sailing- master of the man of war "San Christovao...