Bartolomeu Dias Lesson

In this lesson, students will examine the life and voyages of Bartolomeu Dias, focusing on his 1488 expedition that proved a sea route around the southern tip of Africa was possible. They will explore the political and economic pressures that drove Portuguese exploration during the fifteenth century, and consider how the work of individual explorers built upon one another to eventually open a direct sea route to India. Students will have the opportunity to achieve this through choosing their own method of learning, from reading or research options, as well as the chance to engage in extension activities. This lesson includes a self-marking quiz for students to demonstrate their learning.