Dinis Dias

Timeline

1. 1432–1440Lagos · LagosIn the 1430s Dias took part as a crewman or second-in-command in several of Prince Henry's voyages south along the African coast, amid the wave of exploration following the rounding of Cape Bojador, gaining experience in the Lagos–Sagres navigational system.
2. 1444–1445Mouth of the Senegal River · Senegal RiverDias led a fleet to the waters near the mouth of the Senegal River, encountering local trade and fishing activities, marking Portuguese exploration's entry into the tropical coast of West Africa and laying the groundwork for later searches for gold and slave trade routes.
3. 1445Cape Verde peninsula · Cape Verde peninsulaDias's fleet discovered the Cape Verde peninsula (Cap-Vert) jutting into the Atlantic, a place name later used to name the Cape Verde islands. This geographical discovery expanded European knowledge of the West African coastline and became a springboard for Portugal's continued southward push to the Gulf of Guinea.