João de Santarém facts for kids
João de Santarém was a brave Portuguese explorer from the 1400s. He sailed the seas and discovered new lands. He played a big part in Portugal's Age of Discovery. He explored parts of Africa and found important trade routes.
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Discovering New Islands
João de Santarém made several important discoveries. On December 21, 1471, he found the island of São Tomé. Soon after, in January 1472, he discovered Annobón. Just a few days later, on January 17, 1472, he found the island of Príncipe. These islands are in the Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Africa.
Exploring the African Coast
João de Santarém also explored the coast of West Africa. In 1471, he sailed with another explorer, Pêro Escobar. They found the town of Sassandra in what is now the Ivory Coast. In 1472, they explored the African coast even further. Their journey took them from Ghana all the way to the Niger Delta.
Finding the Gold Trade
In January 1471, João de Santarém and Pêro de Escobar made a very important discovery. They found a busy gold trading area. This place is now known as Elmina in Ghana. It was a major center for gold trade at the time.
Captain in Cape Verde
From 1484, João de Santarém became a captain in the Cape Verde islands. He was in charge of Alcatrazes, an area near Santiago or Brava islands. This role showed his importance in Portugal's growing overseas empire.
See also
In Spanish: João de Santarém para niños
