Bartholomew Diaz (1450-1500), Portuguese explorer. Also called Bartolomeu Dias, in 1488 he navigated down the western coast of Africa and sailed round the southernmost tip of Africa. This opened up the sea route to the east that would be an important part of the Portuguese Age of Discovery, enabling them to form a far-flung empire. He also took part in Pedro Cabral's voyage that discovered Brazil. Diaz died in a storm off the Cape of Good Hope.