Cape Route Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
shipping route around the Cape of Good Hope
About Cape Route
Ancient and medieval scholars disagreed whether the Atlantic and Indian Ocean were connected. According to Herodotus, an expedition sent by Egyptian Pharaoh Necho II and manned byPhoenicianscircumnavigated Africa around 600 BCE. The 15th century expansion of theOttoman Empiredisrupted commerce along theSilk Road, and encouraged Europeans to find a new route to Asia, in particular for the import ofspices. Thevoyages of Columbusaimed for Asia, but instead established European contact with the Americas. Vasco da Gama's discovery of the Cape Route, as well as the Columbian voyages, inspired theMagellan-Elcano circumnavigation. Most of thePortuguese Empirewas founded along the route, as well as most other European colonies on the continent before the late 19th century scramble forAfrica. Overse
Cape Route Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 2 sections including: