Final answer:
Portugal's move towards Africa was driven by key figures like King John I, Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, and Vasco da Gama. King John enabled the initial foray into African trade; Prince Henry supported advancements in navigation, leading to an empire based on trade with Africa; Dias and da Gama established essential sea routes to Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Portuguese Exploration and Its Leaders
The Age of Discovery was significantly influenced by key Portuguese figures and their roles during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. King John I of Portugal set the stage for Portuguese maritime superiority with the conquest of Ceuta in 1415. It was this move that began to open African trade routes and served as a prelude to explorations further along the African coast.
Prince Henry the Navigator, son of King John, was a central figure in the Portuguese Exploration era. With a passion for navigation and discovery, Prince Henry's curiosity and drive led to the setup of a navigation school in Sagres, which further advanced Portuguese maritime ventures. His support empowered Portuguese mariners to expand into Africa, culminating in a significant trade empire that included the trade of gold, ivory, and eventually, enslaved people.
Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama were notable explorers who followed Prince Henry's legacy. Dias was the first European to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa, opening the route to the Indian Ocean in 1488. This was later capitalized on by Vasco da Gama, who reached India in 1497, establishing a direct sea route from Europe to Asia and further solidifying Portugal's position in global trade networks.