John II Organizes African Expeditions

Timeline

1. 1486–1487Lisbon court · PortugalIn Lisbon, John II integrated navigational data, astronomical observations, and intelligence networks, establishing a dual exploration strategy of a sea route south around Africa and overland penetration of the East.
2. 1487Lisbon · PortugalJohn II appointed Bartolomeu Dias to command three ships, departing Lisbon southward along the west coast of Africa to find a passage around the continent's southern tip into the Indian Ocean.
3. 1487Lisbon · PortugalJohn II simultaneously sent Pêro da Covilhã and Afonso de Paiva overland via the Mediterranean to India and Ethiopia to gather intelligence on spice trade routes and Red Sea sea lanes, complementing the maritime expedition.