Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the Age of Discovery:

1. Bartholomew Diaz was the ruler of Portugal who made great contributions to the age of discovery.
2. Henry, the navigator, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and laid the basis of direct links between Europe and India.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: None of the above
Notes: The banner of struggle against the Ottoman Turks, who had choked the trade between Europe and East had taken up the powers in the western part of Mediterranean, Spain and Portugal. The work of the Portuguese ruler, Dom Henrique, generally called Henry the Navigator could be seen in the context. From 1418 CE, Prince Henry sent two or three ships every year to explore the Western coast of Africa and to search a sea route to India. He also opened a proper school to teach the art and science of navigation. Eventually, in 1488 CE, Bartholomew Diaz rounded the Cape of Good Hope and laid the basis of direct trade links between Europe and India. The landing of Vasco da Gama at Calicut in 1498 CE with two ships, with Gujarati pilots around, who had guided the ships from the African coast to Calicut marked the arrival of Portuguese in India.