Dias's father was a court official and his brother was a knight in the order of Christ, one of the most important military orders in Portugal. The Portuguese were the leading explorers of the time and Dias was eager to join in the effort to find new trade routes to Asia. Dias's expedition left Lisbon in August of 1487 with three ships. He sailed along the coast of Africa, and by January 1488 he had reached the Cape of Good Hope. However, Dias was forced to turn back because of bad weather.
In addition to his desire for fame and fortune, Dias was also motivated by the religious beliefs of his time. He believed that it was his duty as a Christian to spread Christianity to the people of Africa and Asia. He was also encouraged by King John II of Portugal, who was eager to find a new trade route to India.
Dias's voyage was an important step in the exploration of the world. It opened up a new route to Asia, which would later be used by Vasco da Gama to reach India in 1498. Dias's voyage also helped to change the way Europeans viewed the world. It showed them that the world was much larger than they had thought, and it inspired them to explore new lands and cultures.