Answer:
Their voyages opened up much more direct trade with Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
This is the main reason why Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama are considered important explorers. Bartolomeu Dias was responsible for reaching the southernmost tip of Africa, which allowed Europeans to develop a secondary route to Asia later on. On the other hand, Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sea. This was the first time that Europe was connected to Asia by an ocean route.